Czech LGBTs have teamed up with Jaromir Jagr and Zalando to motivate the Czech Republic to move. Join in and win clothing vouchers
Jaromir Jagr is one of the most successful hockey legends both in the national team and in the American NHL, where he was drafted for the 1990/1991 season. Together with the Czech national team, he won the Nagano Olympics, has two Stanley Cups and is the second highest scoring player in NHL history behind Wayne Gretzky. It is not for nothing that he joined the Zalando ambassador programme, which includes fashion editor Monika Marešová, designer Vanda Janda, influencers Beha Nguyen and Tereza Hodanová and many others.
Together they want to motivate the Czech nation to move and live a healthier lifestyle. "We don't have to train for the Olympics or the World Championships, but if we want to be the best at something, we always have to work hard. The most important thing is to do everything with love, with love for yourself, not for others. That's why I teamed up with Zalando. To motivate people to move even more together. I'm preparing for the new season myself and everyone can join me", says Jaromir Jagr.
Czechs, get out of your comfort zone!
The collaboration between Zalando and Jaromir Jagr starts with a joint marketing campaign and a social media appeal that invites all Czechs to step out of their comfort zone and find their daily sports routine, regardless of their age or their own physical condition.
Get involved and win
For four weeks, Jaromir Jagr and four selected Zalando ambassadors will motivate people to try new sports and showcase their achievements on Instagram under the hashtag #JJ68xZalando.
In order to celebrate Jagr's famous number on his jersey, a total of 68 people will win a voucher worth CZK 1,500. The winners will be selected by Jaromír Jágr himself based on their activity within this sports challenge. Each of you can share a photo on Instagram that shows a certain physical activity, add the hashtag #JJ68xZalando and maybe look forward to winning.
The campaign focuses on the main sports - running, training, yoga and basketball. Each sport will be supported by one of the four other Zalando ambassadors selected according to their own sport focus: Monika Marešová will focus on running, Tereza Hodanová on yoga, Paulie Garand on training and Adam Mach on basketball.
Famous Czech gay men have also joined the campaign. Why is exercise so important for them?
Petr Dočkal (@peterdockal)
Photo: Archiv Petr DočkalWhy did you decide to join the campaign? Sport should be a part of every healthy person's life, where they can move painlessly. I'm very happy to be part of this campaign, which - hopefully - will appeal especially to the younger generation, who are not as used to spending time outdoors and playing sports as they did in our youth - without mobile phones and social networks.
How important is movement to you? Movement is extremely important to me and has become an integral part of my daily life. This is due to the fact that I grew up in a very sporty family. My dad played competitive hockey for Olomouc, which is how I got into hockey at the age of 8. I did athletics, swimming and judo at the same time. When I got tired of team sports, I switched to tennis at the age of 12, which at that time the whole family played. At 17 I moved to France for a year and my biggest sporting hobby became fitness, which has actually stayed with me to this day.
How often do you move and what sports do you like most? I currently go to the gym three to four times a week. I enjoy it so much that I got a globally recognised coaching certificate from a British school (International Sports and Science Assosiation), so I might as well do it for a living. However, I currently have another job and I'm about to start university again, but through my Instagram (@peterdockal) I make tailored training plans for people, which I work on with my mum, who is a neurologist and is currently working on musculoskeletal issues - particularly spinal and back irregularities. Together, she and I can discover body irregularities and design the perfect plan that will not only correct the alignment of the entire body, but strengthen muscles that are neglected compared to others. In this way, serious complications with the muscles, spine and the entire musculoskeletal system can be avoided in the future.
Šimon Macháček (@mach.sim)
Why did you decide to join the campaign? Every day in my work I see many different people - old and young, healthy and sick. I see the enormous differences between those who move and those who do nothing. I see people in their eighties riding bicycles and I see people in their forties barely climbing stairs. Physical movement is still one of the best medicines in the world, despite all the advances in modern medicine.
How important is exercise to you? For me personally, movement brings me joy above all. Exercise is the best way to clear my head after a hard day at work, to tire my body and put my worries behind me. Sport is basically my addiction, endorphins are released during it and they are the biggest reward.
How often do you move and what are your favourite sports? I do sport almost every day now - I swim, run and work out on the streetworkout playground regularly, I love cross-country skiing in the winter and I enjoy riding my road bike. I try to alternate sports in different ways.
Filip Jankovic (@thefilipjankovic)
Photo: Archiv Filip JankovičWhy did you decide to get involved in the campaign? I myself motivate people to move, to develop their talents and not to waste their time. So this challenge speaks directly to my soul.
How important is movement to you? Movement for me is meditation, relaxation, but most importantly my health.
How often do you move and what are your favorite sports? I really get plenty of exercise every day. If I can say it's dancing, that's my favourite sport. But I also love cycling and swimming.
David Pártl (@davidakcz)
Photo: Archiv David PártlWhy did you decide to get involved in the campaign? I love it when brands with such a large reach create campaigns that encourage people to play sports and live an active lifestyle. Still a large proportion of our population is overweight and obese. Although it may not seem like it, the Czech Republic is one of the "fatter countries" in Europe. So it is only good if together with Zalando we get more people moving.
How important is movement for you? Movement and sport is an essential part of life for me. I've been playing sports all my life - whether it was on a competitive, recreational or now professional level. In my time of isolation, I realized how important even everyday movement (walking to work, shopping, walking the dog, taking the stairs) is for our bodies. Just sitting all day and then going for a run is simply not enough. You should be actively moving all day long. Instead of a few tram stops, it is better to take a walk, etc.
How often do you move and what sports do you like? I do several sports every day. I lead group Les Mills classes every day, I have individual workouts at the gym on top of that, and I'm back to swimming again. Occasionally I'll go paddle boarding, beach volleyball or maybe go for a bike ride. Keep moving, play sports, ideally in appropriate sportswear, and I'd love to see you at my Les Mills classes or personal training.
David Čiháček (@davee_cz)
Photo: Archiv David ČiháčekWhy did you decide to get involved in the campaign? Because it's a way to inspire other people and lead them to do something that brings lots of new friends, good vibes and positive energy.
How important is movement to you? For me personally, daily movement has become an integral part of my life that I couldn't do without. When I'm in a bad mood, a day "under the weather" or some kind of full moon, an hour at the gym or volleyball with friends always improves my mood.
How often do you move and what sports do you like the most? I move pretty much all the time. I walk at least 10 km a day, I literally work out at the gym six times a week and I also play my favourite sport - beach volleyball.
What about you? Will you join us? Share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #JJ68xZalando and show everyone what movement means to you.
