The „Joint Operations 2030” international conference being held by the Institute of Strategic and Defence Studies is taking its second day at the University of Defence.

It is Thursday 29 January2009 afternoon in the Jesenik Mountains and all has got quiet. Four days of tough struggle to beat the nature’s traps, the challenges of events and last but not least to push their own limits are a piece of history for the Czech military Winter Survival 2009 participants. After the final relay race battle for leading positions the Czech teams occupy the podium.

A map, a compass, skis and a backpack with compulsory equipment – those are the necessary tools for the international championship of the Army of the Czech Republic in Winter Survival 2009 in the Jesenik Mountains. On Wednesday 28 January 2009, right past seven in the morning the teams were getting off from the area west of Medvedi Vrch Hill close to Solna chalet to the second part the two-day stage.

If the military polyathlon Winter Survival has claimed the “extreme” label, the wording is even truer for the principal, second in row stage. The teams have to cover more than fifty kilometres through the Hruby Jesenik Mountains carrying their complete survival equipment and accomplishing challenging events prepared by University of Defence Physical Training and Sports Centre instructors.

Monday 26 January, the first day of competition within military Winter Survival 2009 Championships held in the Hruby Jesenik Mountains was devoted to skiing events. Ready mentally and well trained physically, soldiers arrived to the winter challenge start. However, the road to finish passes three stages.

Arriving to represent five countries, the participants in military Winter Survival 2009 championships were welcomed by beautiful sunny weather to the highest mountains of Moravia and Silesia on Sunday, 25 January 2009. They will face demanding four days also due to snow condition that is lower than optimum as the temperature raises above the freezing point during day.

Only a couple of days remain to go till another year of the prestigious international Winter Survival competition that shall take place from 25 till 30 January 2009 in the Hruby Jesenik Mountains. A representative of the University of Defence will be Jan Tancibudek who was in the team that won the bronze medal last year. In the time of this interview he was representing the University of Defence to Military Winter Games – ACR skiing championships that was held on 19 to 22 January 2009 in the Jesenik Mountains.

Besides the traditional Visiting Day for those who are interested in studying the Faculty of Economics and Management or the Faculty of Military Technology that takes place in the barracks in Sumavska Street, the University of Defence opens its Visiting Day for secondary schools and general public on 15 January 2009. Thus, all visitors coming to the UD building in 44 Kounicova Street between 10 AM and 6 PM on 15 January 2009 can get acquainted with University’s teaching and research activities.

The inexorably forthcoming 15th Czech Military Open Winter Outdoor Polyathlon Championships "Winter Survival 2009" with its endurance challenge will take place on 25 till 30 January 2009 in the Hruby Jesenik Mountains. The competition philosophy is again very close to military practice.

The University of Defence wishes all its employees, students and partners calm and enjoyable time in the Christmas holidays spent with all loving close relatives and good helth, happiness and success both in studies and work in the New Year.