28th WORLD OLYMPIC
COLLECTORS FAIR

to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. One of the most beautiful cities in Europe will welcome collectors and enthusiasts from around the world on May 30th to June 1st, 2025, who collect and exchange various Olympic artifacts. And not only that, Prague offers visitors an extraordinary amount of preserved historical gems and landmarks. The historic center of the city with its unique panorama of Prague Castle, the largest castle complex in the world, is worth seeing. These are all reasons to visit Prague, the mother of cities.

Prague – the heart of Europe

Prague has long boasted a number of nicknames and epithets. It is a city of a hundred spires, a stone city, a golden city. Significant personalities have referred to it as the lady of all Bohemia, the pearl of cities, and it is also called the heart of Europe. This is because Bohemia has always been an important region for Europe. Significant European routes led through Bohemia, along which caravans of merchant wagons loaded with precious fabrics, furs, gems, or spices traveled from time immemorial. It is geographically located near the center of Europe and is historically, culturally, and politically significant.

A Gathering of Collectors from Around the World

The World Olympic Collectors’ Fairs have a rich history dating back to the inaugural event in Lausanne in 1994. These fairs focus on collectibles related to the Olympic Games and sports in general, and have become a significant platform for collectors, dealers, and enthusiasts of the Olympic movement.

The fairs showcase a wide range of collectibles, including medals, trophies, posters, and other artifacts associated with the Olympic Games. These events not only foster a collecting culture but also serve as a venue for the exchange of knowledge and experiences among collectors and industry experts.

In 2025, the World Olympic Collectors’ Fair will be held in Prague, a momentous occasion for the Czech collecting community. The AICO (International Association of Olympic Collectors) selected Prague as the host city at its meeting in November 2023. This event promises to attract collectors from around the globe and strengthen international cooperation in the field of Olympic collecting.

The history of these fairs is also intertwined with the development of the Olympic movement and its impact on culture and society. The fairs have become places where people with a passion for sports and history come together, sharing stories and memories of significant Olympic moments. In this way, they contribute to preserving the Olympic spirit and tradition.

Olympic collectors’ fairs have evolved from small gatherings into major international events that celebrate not only sports but also the culture and history associated with the Olympic Games.

Interesting accompanying events

The motto of the WOCF Prague 2025 is “100 Years Since the 8th International Olympic Congress in Prague 1925.” The IOC Committee at that time divided the program of the 1925 IOC Congress into a technical and pedagogical part. The congress was attended by members of the IOC Committee, representatives of National Olympic Committees from around the world, and representatives of international sports federations of Olympic sports at that time. At the IOC session preceding the congresses, Baron Pierre de Coubertin abdicated as president and was subsequently succeeded by Belgian Henri de Baillet-Latoure.

On the homepage, under the “Program” link, you can find a detailed schedule of accompanying events, including dates and locations. Here is a list of events related to the history of the Olympic and sports movement:

  • Exhibition and seminar on the 100th anniversary of the 8th International Olympic Congress in Prague 1925
  • Exhibition “International Fairs and Exhibitions with Olympic and Sports Themes – FIPO, OLYMPEX, OLYMPHILEX, AICO-WOCF”
  • Exhibition “Olympic Stories” organized under the patronage of the Czech Olympic Committee and the Czech Olympic Academy in the National Museum

A Chance to Explore Olympic History

Prague boasts a rich and fascinating Olympic history dating back to the early 20th century. The city has bid for the Summer Olympic Games several times, with the first attempt dating back to 1925 when Prague hosted the 8th Olympic Congress. This congress was significant as delegates recommended that the Olympic Games be held over a two-week period, a tradition that has continued at subsequent Games.

Another significant bid for the Olympics came in 2005 when Prague was a candidate to host the 2016 Summer Games. This bid was part of a broader effort to modernize the city’s infrastructure and raise Prague’s international profile. However, Prague was unsuccessful, and the Olympics were awarded to Rio de Janeiro.

In 2007, Prague bid again for the Olympics, this time for 2020, but was unsuccessful once more. This cycle of Olympic bids was often accompanied by debates about the costs and benefits, with many critics arguing that investments in the Olympics could be better used for developing urban infrastructure and social projects.

Today, Prague strives to maintain the Olympic spirit through various sporting events and projects, such as the T-Mobile Olympic Run, which promotes an active lifestyle and engages the wider public in sports activities. In 2024, the National Museum is hosting the exhibition “Olympic Stories,” showcasing unique artifacts and stories related to the Olympic Games, thus keeping the Olympic culture alive in Prague.

Overall, Prague’s Olympic history is a tale of ambition, setbacks, and efforts to promote sports and a healthy lifestyle in Czech society.

Prague Olympic Meetings

The first meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in our country can be considered very significant. From May 29 to June 4, 1925, the 8th Olympic Congress was held in Prague. In fact, we can say that there were two congresses. In addition to the technical one, for the first time in Olympic history, a pedagogical congress was held, initiated by the IOC President himself, Pierre de Coubertin.

Even before the Olympic Congress, the IOC met on May 26-28 for its session. The most important item on the agenda was the election of a new president. Pierre de Coubertin submitted his long-announced resignation, and Henri de Baillet-Latour from Belgium was elected the new president in the second round. At the same time, representatives of Germany and Austria were elected to the IOC, and both countries could thus participate in the Olympic Games again.

The sessions of both parts of the congress were then opened by a ceremonial meeting at which speeches were delivered by the representative of our government, the Minister of Public Health and Physical Education, the Mayor of Prague Karel Baxa, and the IOC President Pierre de Coubertin. After the ceremonial opening, the technical congress began its proceedings, chaired by the president of the International Athletics Federation, the Swede Sigfrid Edström (who later became the president of the IOC from 1945 to 1952). Among the most important resolutions was the adoption of the status of an amateur, the Olympic oath, the setting of the minimum program and maximum length of the Olympic Games, and the introduction of the Winter Olympic Games, when the previous year’s Winter Sports Week was declared the 1st Winter Olympic Games.

The pedagogical congress, which was opened by Pierre de Coubertin and chaired by Professor Karel Weigner, discussed a number of issues. Of the many issues addressed by the congress, it is necessary to highlight the idea of education through sport, the emphasis on the all-round sporting ability of children and youth, on women’s sports, on the need for cooperation between coaches and doctors, and on the application of the chivalrous spirit and fair play. The Prague Congress can still be considered very important for the development of the Olympic idea. It should be added that our representative in the IOC, Jiří Stanislav Guth-Jarkovský, made a great contribution to the preparation and conduct of the congress.

In 1977, from 15 to 18 June, the IOC met in Prague for its 79th session. The ceremonial opening took place in the Carolinum. After speeches by the chairman of the Czechoslovak Sports Union and the Czechoslovak Olympic Committee, Antonín Himl, and the IOC President Lord Michael Killanin, the President of Czechoslovakia, Gustáv Husák, opened the session. In the afternoon, the actual proceedings began in the congress hall of the Inter-Continental Hotel. On the first day of the meeting, 11 new IOC members were elected. The further program included reports on the progress of the Olympic Games in 1976 and the preparations of the organizers of the Games in 1980. Furthermore, the IOC set the duration of the Summer Games at 16 days and the Winter Games at 13 days.

The program of the Games was also expanded – for the summer Games by two weight categories in judo, in weightlifting the weight category up to 100 kg was included and the 50 km walk returned to the program. In yachting, the Tempest class replaced the Star class, and in the Winter Games, a 10 km biathlon competition was added. The inclusion of modern gymnastics was narrowly missed. There were greater differences in the voting against the inclusion of samba, the cycling tandem, the women’s 3000-meter run, and the women’s 20-kilometer cross-country skiing.

The last day was devoted to completing the discussion of the reports of the individual commissions. Then continued with a visit to the Old Town Hall, where they were invited by the Prague Mayor Zdeněk Zuska, and the evening farewell took place at Koloděje Castle.

It must be said that the IOC members thanked for the excellent care and unanimously approved the proposal of the Rules Commission to award the Olympic Cup for 1976 to the Czechoslovak Sports Union, especially for the 1975 Spartakiad. On the other hand, it must be said that there were also concerns among the organizers as to whether the guests would be interested in the shadows of the political and social life of the host country, especially in the year of the publication of Charter 77. However, in the interest of the necessary consensus, the IOC representatives were not interested in touching on these issues. The IOC president, however, had to protest when his speech at the opening ceremony was insensitively censored by the Czechoslovak press.

For the third and so far last time, the IOC met in Prague from 1 to 3 July 2003 at its 115th session. The most important issues to be resolved were the selection of the host city for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the further perspective of the Games, and the supplementary elections of members and vice-president of the IOC. The first day was full of formalities. First, President Václav Klaus received the participants of the session at Prague Castle. He also spoke at the ceremonial opening of the session in the Municipal House. Other speakers were the chairman of the Czech Olympic Committee, Milan Jirásek, and the IOC President, Jacques Rogge of Belgium. It should be noted that the well-known actor Marek Eben introduced the entire evening very well. Before the evening program, Jacques Rogge officially opened the exhibition Sport in Czech Art of the 20th Century.

On the second day, the voting on the venue of the XXI Winter Olympic Games took place. The voting already took place at the Hilton Hotel. In the first round of voting, Pyeongchang was first (51 votes), followed by Vancouver (40 votes), and Salzburg, Austria, was eliminated (16 votes). In the second round, however, the Canadian candidate Vancouver eventually won, receiving 56 votes and thus defeating the Korean candidate Pyeongchang (53 votes). It is perhaps worth adding that Vancouver had hockey legend Wayne Gretzky in its delegation, Salzburg had skier Hermann Maier and footballer Franz Beckenbauer, and Pyeongchang, in addition to two short track speed skating Olympic champions, also had the 1992 marathon winner Hwang Young-Joa.

Of the other points adopted, let us mention at least the election of a new vice-president, Kim Un-jong from Korea, the postponement of the Olympic Games in Beijing and the inclusion of the BMX cycling discipline in the program of the Games, the adoption of uniform rules in the fight against doping and the acceptance of Afghanistan, East Timor and Kiribati into the IOC, which thus united 202 countries. For us, it was important to annul the results of the Russian skier Lazutina from the 2002 Winter Olympics, which meant that our Kateřina Neumannová won silver in the 15 km race and bronze in the combined event.

A unique opportunity for all Olympic history enthusiasts!

The World Olympic Collectors’ Fair, WOCF Prague 2025, is the largest event of its kind in Czech history and one of the most significant gatherings of Olympic collectors worldwide. With a tradition dating back to 1994, this fair has become a prestigious event for all lovers of Olympic history.

Join us and become part of this unique event, discovering a world of rare Olympic artifacts. Over 100 exhibitors from around the globe will showcase their unique collections, including historic medals, original posters, and other treasures.

The fair is not only a place to admire exhibits but also to make purchases, exchange items, and forge new connections with other passionate collectors. Experience unforgettable moments surrounded by people who share your passion for Olympic history.

Don’t hesitate and come join us!

Praha je jedno z nejkrásnějších měst na světě, které se může pyšnit bohatou historií a množstvím kulturních a historických památek. Město, které je zapsáno na seznamu světového dědictví UNESCO, nabízí návštěvníkům fascinující pohled na minulost a současnost. Zde je několik nejvýznamnějších památek, které byste v Praze rozhodně neměli minout.

1. Pražský hrad

Pražský hrad je jedním z největších hradních komplexů na světě a symbolem české státnosti. Byl založen ve 9. století a od té doby se stal sídlem českých králů, císařů i prezidentů. Mezi hlavní atrakce v areálu patří katedrála svatého Víta, Zlatá ulička, Starý královský palác a nádherné výhledy na město. Hrad je nejen historickým centrem, ale i místem kulturních akcí a státních ceremonií.

2. Staroměstské náměstí

Staroměstské náměstí je srdcem historické Prahy a jedním z nejnavštěvovanějších míst ve městě. Dominantou náměstí je Staroměstská radnice, na jejíž věži se nachází slavný orloj. Každou celou hodinu přitahuje tisíce turistů, kteří se shromažďují, aby viděli, jak orloj ožije a ukáže pohyblivé figurky apoštolů. Na náměstí stojí i krásné historické budovy, jako jsou kostel svatého Mikuláše, Týnský chrám a mnoho dalších.

3. Karlův most

Karlův most, který spojuje Staré Město s Malou Stranou, je jednou z nejznámějších památek v Praze. Byl postaven v 14. století za vlády Karla IV. a je vyzdoben třiceti sochami světců. Most je oblíbeným místem nejen pro procházky, ale i pro fotografie, protože nabízí nádherný výhled na řeku Vltavu, Pražský hrad a malebnou zástavbu kolem.

4. Václavské náměstí

Václavské náměstí je jedním z největších a nejdůležitějších náměstí v České republice. Je to místo historických událostí, jako byla sametová revoluce v roce 1989. Na jeho vrcholu stojí socha svatého Václava, patrona Čech, a kolem se nachází obchodní domy, restaurace a hotely. Náměstí je také významným kulturním centrem s Národním muzeem, které se nachází na jeho horním konci.

5. Petřín

Petřín je jedním z nejkrásnějších parků v Praze, který nabízí úžasné výhledy na město. Na vrcholu Petřína se nachází Petřínská rozhledna, která byla postavena na počest 50. výročí vzniku Československé republiky. Rozhledna je napodobení Eiffelovy věže a nabízí panoramatický výhled na celou Prahu. V parku je také zrcadlové bludiště a krásné aleje, které lákají k procházkám.

6. Vyšehrad

Vyšehrad je historické místo, které se nachází na vysokém návrší nad Vltavou. Podle legendy to byl původní hrad, který stál na začátku české státnosti. Dnes je Vyšehrad spíše klidným místem s krásným parkem, bazilikou svatého Petra a Pavla a vyhlídkami na město. Vyšehradské hradby a pohřebiště významných osobností české historie (například spisovatelé Karel Čapek a Bedřich Smetana) jsou dalším důvodem, proč toto místo navštívit.

7. Židovská čtvrť (Josefov)

Pražská Židovská čtvrť, známá jako Josefov, je historickým centrem židovské komunity v Praze. Najdete zde několik významných památek, včetně Staronové synagogy, nejstarší synagogy v Evropě, a židovského hřbitova, kde jsou pohřbeni slavní rabíni a významní členové židovské komunity. Josefov je také domovem Židovského muzea, které dokumentuje historii Židů v Čechách a na Moravě.

8. Národní divadlo

Národní divadlo je jedním z nejvýznamnějších kulturních a historických symbolů České republiky. Bylo otevřeno v roce 1881 a od svého vzniku se stalo centrem české národní kultury. Divadlo má impozantní architekturu a nachází se na břehu Vltavy. Na jeho scéně se uvádí opery, balety a činohry, a jeho návštěva je zážitkem pro milovníky umění.

9. Tančící dům

Tančící dům, také nazývaný “Ginger a Fred”, je moderní architektonický skvost v centru Prahy. Byla postavena na přelomu 20. a 21. století a její futuristický design připomíná tančící pár. Budova je dílem architektů Franka Gehryho a Vlada Miluniće a je jedním z nejvýraznějších příkladů moderní architektury v městském prostředí.

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