SLOVAKIA – HIGHEST NOC TROPHY AWARDED TO VERA CASLAVSKA

21 June 2012

Bratislava, 19th June - Legendary Czechoslovak gymnast Vera Caslavska, heroine of the Olympic Games in Tokyo 1964 and Mexico City 1968, holder of altogether 11 Olympic medals, including 7 of gold, was decorated by the highest annual award of the Slovak Olympic Committee – the SOC Trophy.

The trophy was handed over to her by the NOC president Mr. Frantisek Chmelar on 1st of June. This happened during the opening ceremony of 25th edition of Gym Festival in Trnava, Slovakia, together with congratulation to her jubilee (she turned 70 on 3rd of May). Honorary FIG President, former IOC member Yuri Titov and Slovak minister responsible for sport Mr. Dusan Caplovic were at this occasion among congratulants too.

One day earlier, SOC President Frantisek Chmelar, accompanied by SOC Secretary General Jozef Liba and by the SOC EB member Maria Mracnova, had a privilige to welcome Vera Caslavska, and also Yuri Titov, in the headquarters of the SOC.

Vera Caslavska was in the period 1990 – 1992 Chairman of the Czechoslovak Olympic Committee. Mostly thanks to her wide understanding and sense for fair play the split of Czechoslovak Olympic Committee and dividing of its property between the new NOCs of Czech and Slovak Republic was without problems.
In the period 1992 – 1996 she was Chairman of the Czech NOC, in a period 1995 – 2001 the IOC member too.
After the family tragedy step by step she retired from all functions in sport for a very long time.
Since autumn 2009 she returned back to the normal life.
Vera Caslavska visited Slovakia after 20 years. There was a huge public interest around her.

Picture:
Vera Caslavska with the Slovak Olympic Committee Trophy, together with the SOC President Frantisek Chmelar.