Czech President Injured in Motorcycle Accident on Closed Track and Hospitalised

Czech President Petr Pavel was lightly injured on Thursday while riding a motorbike and is being monitored in hospital.

The Czech president's office posted a message on social media platform X.

"The president of the republic was injured while riding a motorcycle," the office said, without going into details of the incident. 

"The injuries are not serious, but require short-term hospital observation. We will provide more information when it becomes available," the statement said. 

Answering questions from ČTK, ÚVN spokeswoman Jitka Zinke confirmed that the hospital had admitted and treated the president, who remains there for observation. She did not specify the duration of the hospitalisation. Presidential spokesperson Vit Kolář told Czech Television (ČT) that Pavel is likely to remain in hospital for several days. Police are not investigating the accident, as it took place on a closed sports track. Among others, Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) wished the president a speedy recovery.

"The injury did not occur on the road, but on a closed sports track, so we do not consider it a road accident," the police said. According to Deník N, the president was injured on a closed track in the Central Bohemian region.

Pavel, 62, is known for his love of motorcycling, which he did not give up even after being elected president last year. Last summer, a video of Pavel riding a motorbike without a helmet went viral. Later, the president apologised and said he would donate money to help motorcyclists who, through no fault of their own, ended up in wheelchairs. The retired general is known for his good physical fitness, for example, he went skydiving this February, and likes to go mountain hiking during his trips to the regions.