Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia from which pessimism and negativity are absent.
Young Slovak basketball talent joins Miami Hurricanes
Timotej Malovec (source: Lukáš Droppan)
Rising Slovak basketball talent Timotej Malovec is heading to the USA to play for the University of Miami next season, the Sportnet sports news portal reports.
The 20-year-old, currently a starter for Mega Basket, a Belgrade team that plays in the western-Balkans Adriatic League, is known for his strong defensive skills. Despite modest stats, coaches praise his impact on the court – playing nearly 26 minutes per game, and starting for Slovakia in every EuroBasket 2025 qualifier.
“Malovec is a huge talent for European basketball,” said respected coach Luca Banchi.
With support from top agent Miško Ražnatovič, who also represents NBA most valuable player (MVP) Nikola Jokić, Malovec’s future looks bright across the Atlantic.
One-of-a-kind climbing wall opens in end-of-the-line Slovak village
A unique high-adrenaline attraction has opened in the village of Utekáč in central Slovakia – a climbing wall built on the side of a 42-metre-high historic factory chimney dating from 1787. It’s the only one of its kind in Slovakia, and among very few in Europe.
Open from April to October, the wall features two routes, including a more challenging one for experienced climbers. A children’s climbing wall is also available at the base.
The project cost €105,000 and was largely funded by a rural development grant. Proceeds from visitor fees go toward maintenance. Local officials hope the chimney will attract adventurers from across Europe.
Utekáč is one of the furthest-flung destinations on the national rail network, being the last stop on a branch line that connects it to the town of Lučenec in southern Slovakia.
Top mountain bikers returned to Turčianske Teplice
After a one-year break, the Turieckap mountain bike race returned to Turčianske Teplice, drawing nearly 250 riders and international attention as part of the UCI calendar.
Slovakia’s Matej Ulík dominated the Elite men’s race, while Poland’s Gabriela Wojtylová topped the women’s category. Local rider Martina Šichtová finished seventh overall and third among Slovak women.
The event also honoured its founder, Peter Vríčan, who tragically passed away during trail preparations ten years ago. His son and race director, Daniel Vríčan, expressed gratitude for the support and promised more exciting races – like the MTB Eliminator championship coming this September.
Some more feel-good stories published by The Slovak Spectator for you to enjoy:
The Slovak singer who plans to help Czechia achieve its best result in Eurovision.
A new cycle path linking Bratislava to Devín should finally make the notoriously dangerous route safe to ride.
Forget the spa – Bojnice’s trails are the real therapy. Cyclists can ride specially designed forest trails named after local lords.
Slovakia's top ice-hockey league finals may see a new record.
Meme of the week
Caption: Compensation
This meme from satirical site Zomri parodies two recent – and widely criticised – acts by parliament: the new transaction tax, which businesses started paying on April 1, and the so-called Covid amnesty. Under the latter, the state will compensate people who were fined for breaking public health regulations during the pandemic. Zomri frivolously implies that, along with the numerous tax deductions that business owners have been complaining and posting about, they might console themselves with the prospect of "compensation" for Covid-era transgressions.
Andrej Danko, the leader of the Slovak National Party (SNS), which is part of the governing coalition, says he will propose abolishing the transaction tax in parliament if he cannot reach an agreement with his coalition partners – despite having voted just last year to launch the new tax. “First, I will try to reach an agreement in the kitchen, and if not, I will bring it up in parliament and I don’t care who votes how. I will welcome every vote, this tax must end by December 31,” he declared in TA3.
“The first days show that it has no place in our tax conditions, I am convinced that it is unethical,” he said. He also stated that if a strong coalition partner (the SNS is the smallest party in the coalition) comes up with an experiment like the transaction tax, it is difficult to predict how it will be set up. His statement rather overlooks that fact that the rules governing the tax were laid out in the law for which Danko and his caucus all voted – and that it is literally the job of MPs to scrutinise new laws. Danko himself is a deputy speaker of parliament.
Michal Šimečka, the leader of opposition party Progressive Slovakia, which opposed the transaction tax, is calling for the charge to be abolished even sooner. “Not from the end of the year, but from May 1,” he said. “Not only does it harm entrepreneurs, but everyone, because it will also be reflected in price increases. Let’s abolish the tax. The public pressure will not be able to withstand it, let’s do it sooner,” he added.
You can send me your tips for good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: kseniia.husieva@spectator.sk. Thank you!
