Launching of the National Gamekeeping Exhibition marked by the centenary history of the Hunting Association

Precisely on the day of the 100^th anniversary of the founding of the predecessor of the Czech-Moravian Hunting Association, the National Gamekeeping Show was opened at the Brno Exhibition Centre.

 The ceremony took place on the stage in Hall G1 with an inevitable accompaniment of trumpeters, formally opening this year's National Gamekeeping Show. Exhibitors and visitors were greeted by the Deputy Minister Miroslav Skřivánek on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture Zdeněk Nekula. "I have toured the entire hall; I am a hunter myself and it is a truly beautiful exhibition," he said. He also apologised for the minister, who was unable to attend the opening in person, and conveyed his big greetings not only to the gamekeepers who take care of the countryside and the game, but also to all the hunters who are engaged in association activities and help maintain an active life in the rural areas.

A significant anniversary determined the main theme of the opening day. Exactly one hundred years ago – on 22 April 1923 – the Czechoslovak Hunting Union was founded in Brno as a predecessor of today's Czech-Moravian Hunting Association. In this context, speaker Petr Joo also reminded us of another anniversary this year – 70 years from the birth of Ing. Dr. Jaroslav Pospíšil, who founded the National Gamekeeping Show. And Jiří Janota, chair of the Czech-Moravian Hunting Association, expressed thanks to Veletrhy Brno for making it possible to extend the exhibition to Saturday because of today's anniversary. "I think we did very well, because you all see how many visitors are here today. I believe that when someone stands here in one hundred years' time, it will be as dignified a celebration as today," declared Jiří Janota. He also stressed that even though today's name is the Czech-Moravian Hunting Association, the long common history with Slovak partners will definitely not be forgotten. An exhibition of unique trophies since 1923 in Hall G1 commemorates this history, and Jiří Janota thanked the Slovak partners for contributing their trophies to it as well. "My colleagues have done what no one has ever done before: they have gathered important trophies hunted in the Czech Republic and Slovakia over the last 100 years, which is a significant attraction for all the participants of the exhibition," said the chairperson of the Hunting Association.

Tomáš Kratochvíl, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BVV Trade Fairs Brno, also welcomed all the audience from the stage. "When I look around me, the first word that comes to mind is tradition. This exhibition is traditional and hunting itself is the very embodiment of tradition. The celebration of one hundred years of the Czech-Moravian Hunting Association, which is taking place here, is a presentation of hunting traditions at their best," said Tomáš Kratochvíl, adding that nobility and usefulness in hunting have been passed down from generation to generation for many centuries. "The main mission of hunting is to care for wild game, which is an integral part of the environment we live in. I believe that visitors to this exhibition will learn a lot about living nature and come closer to understanding it better," he concluded.