Ahead of the Birell Grand Prix Prague, Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda shared his views in an interview on what the race means for the city. From sporting excellence to community spirit and international recognition, he sees the event as a true celebration of Prague.
Prague is gearing up for a weekend of sports as the Birell Grand Prix Prague returns on Saturday, 6 September. The event will once again bring thousands of runners to the historic heart of the city, combining top-level athletics with a vibrant community celebration.
Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda, a lifelong sports enthusiast and regular visitor to RunCzech races, emphasises the importance of the event not only for athletes but for the entire city. “Thanks to RunCzech and hundreds of volunteers, we connect sport, city, and the community. That’s the story we want to tell about Prague,” he says.
This year’s programme features the traditional Birell 10K Night Race and the adidas Women’s 5K Run. According to Svoboda, they are “a celebration of movement and fair competition, bringing together elite athletes with thousands of recreational runners right in the historic centre of Prague.”
The Mayor also highlights the logistical efforts behind the event. Coordination between organisers, the Municipal Police, the Prague Public Transit Company, and the Technical Road Administration ensures smooth operations while minimising disruption for residents.
Beyond the sporting spectacle, the Birell Grand Prix delivers tangible benefits to the capital. With more than 10,000 active runners taking part – not counting their companions, friends, and families – the event fills hotels, boosts local services, and generates international exposure. “It is a strong economic and reputational boost: fuller hotels and services, beautiful footage of Prague shared worldwide, and motivation for thousands of people to be active,” Svoboda points out.
The international profile of Prague as a running destination was cemented in 2017, when the city hosted the first-ever women’s road 10K under 30 minutes – a performance that stunned the athletics world. “That performance made Prague a synonym for fast road races and a reliable world-class organiser,” the Mayor recalls. The achievement elevated both the city’s and RunCzech’s standing globally, attracting top athletes, partners, and visitors ever since.
This year’s Birell 10K Night Race is particularly focused on domestic talent, with Czech long-distance runners such as Vích, Vebr, and Zajíc in excellent form. Svoboda believes the atmosphere of an illuminated Prague could spur them to extraordinary performances, possibly even a new national record.
For the Mayor, athletics is not just about competition but about the values it instils. “Running is the most accessible form of prevention. What I admire most is endurance: the ability to keep the pace, to work with your mind and with pain, and to be fair both to your opponents and to yourself,” he explains.
As the city prepares for Saturday’s races, Svoboda looks forward above all to the atmosphere of Prague at night and the contest among the nation’s best runners. “Evening Prague can push the domestic elite to exceptional performances. The battle for the national record – right down to the last metre – will be something very special.”
