VŠTVS PALESTRA and Czech Olympic Academy
hosted by
The 5th annual SPORTOVNÍ IMPULSY sports conference: PALESTRA 2026
Monday 7 December 2026 | VŠTVS PALESTRA, Prague 9 – Kbely
Sport brings people together. Inspiration drives us forward. We find our inspiration at Palestra.
The fifth annual specialist conference SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS: PALESTRA 2026 Once again, it will provide a forum for people from the world of sport to meet, share experiences and explore new ideas for sporting practice and education.
The conference will take place on Monday 7 December 2026 at the PALESTRA University of Physical Education and Sport in Prague-Kbely.
This year, too, we want to bring together students, academic staff and leading experts from the world of sport in one place.
About the conference
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS are a specialist conference organised by the PALESTRA University of Physical Education and Sport, which bridges the gap between the academic world and sporting practice.
This is a place where university students, academic staff, teachers, coaches, athletes, physiotherapists, sports managers, sports event organisers, representatives of sports clubs and federations, and other experts who actively shape the world of sport.
The fifth edition will build on the success of previous events and once again provide a forum for topical issues, leading speakers, new insights and practical experience.
We want to attract experts and the sporting public to Palestra, whilst at the same time enabling our students to meet people who are shaping the world of sport today. It is precisely this connection theory and practice, education and experience, students and experts We regard this as one of the main aims of the conference.
We look for inspiration together. At Palestra.
Conference programme
Programme for the fifth year SPORTING INITIATIVES: PALESTRA 2026 We are gradually adding to and presenting these.
As in previous years, the conference will be divided into the morning and afternoon sessions and the individual thematic sections. Each of these will offer a range of perspectives on a selected topic – from specialist and academic insights to practical experience in sport.
Conference topics
Morning session
Quo vadis, Czech endurance sports?
presenter Libor Flemr, VŠTVS PALESTRA
Presenter’s profile
FyzioVision
Presenter Natálie Cibulková, VŠTVS PALESTRA
Presenter’s profile
PhDr. Mgr. Natálie Cibulková, Ph.D. is a physiotherapist, nutrition specialist and programme director of the Bachelor’s degree programme in Physiotherapy at VŠTVS PALESTRA. Alongside her academic work, she runs her own private outpatient practice. Her professional approach emphasises a holistic understanding of the musculoskeletal system and nutrition.
The FyzioVision section of the Sportovní impulsy conference provides a forum for discussion on current trends, innovative approaches and the overall direction of the field of movement therapy. It focuses on modern methods of diagnosis, prevention and rehabilitation, and creates a platform for sharing specialist knowledge and practical experience. The aim of the section is to examine musculoskeletal care in a broader context and to provide participants with new ideas for their professional development and day-to-day work.
Municipal subsidy policy and the funding of sport
Presenter Jiří Kotáb, Czech Association of Sports Economists and Managers
Presenter’s profile
Mgr. Jiří Kotáb, Ph.D.
A sports economist, university lecturer and manager specialising in sports economics and management, sports funding, the economic impact of sporting events, and the management of sports facilities.
In the academic sphere, he currently works at the PALESTRA University of Physical Education and Sport and AMBIS University, and is chairman of the Czech Association of Sports Economists and Managers (ČASEM), which he helped to establish in 2014. In addition to his academic and research work, he has practical experience in managing sports facilities (multi-purpose sports facilities and a bowling centre) and organising sporting events (charity events, team-building events and university sports events in the Czech Republic).
This section will focus on the system of funding and public support for sport in the Czech Republic within a broader economic, institutional and social context. It will present theoretical models of support for sport, relevant international approaches and opportunities for utilising European funds, whilst also offering an insight into grant mechanisms from the perspective of both providers and recipients of public support. Attention will also be paid to the role of local authorities and other levels of public administration in the funding of sport, and to issues relating to the effectiveness and evaluation of public expenditure. A separate topic will be the assessment of the economic and social benefits of sporting events and the possibilities for their objective measurement. The section will thus bring together theoretical frameworks, empirical findings and practical experience with the aim of discussing current challenges and opportunities for the further development of the sports funding system in the Czech Republic.
Apolitical, neutral or politically engaged? The Olympic Games and society over the last 130 years
Presenter Alexandr Kliment, Czech Olympic Academy
Presenter’s profile
The Olympic Games are not merely a sporting event, but also a significant social and historical phenomenon.
This section will focus on the history of the Olympic Movement and on events that have transcended the boundaries of sport itself. One of the topics to be covered will be the legacy of the Berlin Olympic Games.
In collaboration with the Czech Olympic Academy, www.olympic.cz
Afternoon session
A safe environment and safeguarding in Czech sport
Presenter Daniela Stackeová, PALESTRA University of Physical Education and Sport
Presenter’s profile
Doc. PhDr. Daniela Stackeová, Ph.D. is an expert in the field of kinesiology, combining sports psychology, health-oriented fitness and psychosomatic physiotherapy. She works as a lecturer and programme coordinator for the Sports and Fitness Specialist degree programme, and as head of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology at the Palestra University of Physical Education and Sport; she also lectures externally at other universities. She is the author of a number of specialist publications and study materials (more at https://danielastackeova.webnode.cz/seznam-odbornych-publikaci/). She is an honorary member of the Association of Sports Psychologists and, since 2026, has been the collaborating academic supervisor for the annual lifelong learning programme in Applied Sports Psychology organised by the Association of Sports Psychologists and the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University.
The issue of a safe environment in sport has gained attention in the Czech Republic in recent years and is gradually shifting from a reactive approach to individual cases towards systematic prevention. Awareness of this issue has become essential for working in the field of sport, and active participation in creating a safe environment in sport is a sign of professionalism on the part of every sports coach or teacher, as well as the athletes themselves.
In this section of the conference, you will learn about the fundamental pillars of a safe environment in sport and the current state of safeguarding in sport in the Czech Republic, about the organisations involved in this work, the specific measures and steps they are taking, and where to find information on this issue.
Come and share your experiences in this area with us, and join the discussion on what each of us can do in our day-to-day lives to promote a safe environment in sport.
The presenter as the face of sporting events
Presenter Daniel Stach
Presenter’s profile
It is not just the athletes and their performances that make a sporting event. The presenter is also an important part of the spectators’ experience and the overall atmosphere, and often becomes one of its most recognisable faces.
How does presenting at sporting events differ from other types of events? How does a presenter prepare, how do they engage with the audience, the athletes and their emotions, how do they respond to unexpected situations, and how do they work with the organiser?
In this section, we would like to invite experienced presenters from major sporting events to share their experiences and offer a behind-the-scenes insight into this specific profession.
Nutrition as a prerequisite for performance
Presenter Pavel Kysel, PALESTRA University of Physical Education and Sport
Presenter’s profile
PhDr. Pavel Kysel, Ph.D., DiS. is a university lecturer, nutritional therapist and head of the practical training centre at the PALESTRA University of Physical Education and Sport, where he is also involved in organising sporting events. His specialist field is sports nutrition and its impact on health and sporting performance. He is the author of specialist publications on, amongst other things, alternative dietary approaches, and strength and endurance performance.
Alongside training and recovery, nutrition is one of the fundamental pillars of sporting performance; yet in practice it is often underestimated or subject to a host of myths and oversimplifications. This section will focus on what we actually know about the relationship between nutrition and performance, and how to apply this knowledge in our day-to-day work with athletes at both recreational and competitive levels.
You will learn how to tailor your energy and nutrient intake to your training workload, what role the timing of meals and fluid intake plays before, during and after exercise, and how nutrition affects an athlete’s recovery and health.
Come and join the discussion on how coaches, athletes and nutritionists can approach nutrition in a way that supports performance without compromising health.
We will be publishing the detailed programme, timetable and specific performances in due course.
Attendance at the conference will once again be free of charge.
We believe that inspiration, new insights and the sharing of experiences should be accessible without unnecessary barriers.
Capacity in each section will be limited. We therefore recommend that you book your place in good time once registration opens.
A look back at SPORTS IMPULSES 2025
The fourth edition of the conference, which took place on 1 December 2025, confirmed that SPORTOVNÍ IMPULSY has established itself as a platform for connecting students, academic staff and sports practitioners.
The programme featured five thematic sections devoted to the impact of sporting events, sports training and the sporting environment, physiotherapy for athletes, the Olympic Games and their links to events at national level, and sports nutrition.
We have recorded selected lectures and made them available online. The conference therefore does not end with the final item on the programme – its content can continue to be of use to Palestra students, as well as to professionals and the sporting community.
▶ WATCH THE ‘SPORTS IMPULSES: PALESTRA 2025’ LECTURES
Venue
College of Physical Education and Sport PALESTRA
Slovačíkova 400/1, Prague 9 – Kbely
Public transport
From the Vysočanská and Černý Most stations on metro line B, or from the Letňany station on metro line C, take the bus to the following stops Kbely or Huntířovská.
Train
Connection to the station Prague-Kbely from the centre of Prague and from Prague-Vysočany.
By car
Parking is available on the Palestra site, but the number of parking spaces is limited. There are other parking options in the vicinity of the school.
Partners of SPORTS IMPULSES 2026
The conference remains open to participants free of charge, because we believe that new knowledge, inspiration and experiences should be accessible without unnecessary barriers.
This makes it all the more important for us to collaborate with experts and other partners who share this vision. Their support helps us to put together a high-quality programme, bring in interesting speakers and create a space where students, experts and professionals from the world of sport can come together.
Confirmed partners
Czech Association of Sports Economists and Managers (ČASEM)
Technical partner of the conference and co-organiser of the session focusing on municipal grant policy and the funding of sport.
Volunteers4sport.cz
An association of volunteers at sporting events, which connects volunteers and organisers and brings to the conference first-hand experience from major sporting events.
Become a partner of SPORTOVNÍ IMPULSY
We offer partners the opportunity to associate their brand with the worlds of sport, education and expert discussion, and to showcase their organisation to conference participants.
Are you interested in becoming a partner for the fifth edition? Please get in touch with us and together we’ll find a suitable way to work together.
Contact
Conference contact person
Mgr. Tomáš Mirovský, Ph.D., MBA, DiS.
Rector of VŠTVS PALESTRA
mirovsky@palestra.cz
College of Physical Education and Sport PALESTRA
Slovacikova 400/1
197 00 Prague 19 - Kbely
Connecting on social media: socialnisite@palestra.cz
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS: PALESTRA 2026
7 December 2026 | Prague-Kbely
Sport brings people together. Inspiration drives us forward. We find our inspiration at Palestra.
