Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
22 February 1998
The Czech national ice hockey team defeats Russia 1-0 to win gold at the Nagano Winter Olympics.
It was this hockey-crazed nation's first and only Olympic gold medal in the sport.
12 March 1999
The Czech Republic enters the NATO military alliance along with Poland and Hungary. The move ini-
tially angers Russia in spite of assurances from NATO that the alliance is purely defensive.
14 August 2002
Several city districts and the metro tunnels are inundated in the Vltava River's biggest modern-era
flood. Damages cost several billion euros and spark redevelopment in hard-hit areas.
1 May 2004
The Czech Republic achieves its biggest foreign policy objective since the Velvet Revolution and
joins the European Union, along with several other former communist countries.
15 February 2008
By a narrow margin, the Czech parliament re-elects conservative economist Václav Klaus to his
second five-year term as President of the Czech Republic.
1 January 2009
Czech Republic assumes the rotating six-month EU presidency. The period is marked by gaffes and
errors, and is hailed as the most chaotic EU presidency ever.
March 2009
Despite the fact the Czechs hold the EU presidency, the government collapses in a no-confidence
vote. The unprecedented move throws the EU into disarray.
5 April 2009
US President Barack Obama addresses thousands of well-wishers at a speech near Prague Castle
during which he promotes a policy of eventual nuclear disarmament.
28-29 May 2010
In landmark elections, Czechs vote in a new centre-right coalition, ending nearly a year without an
elected government.
