NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days were first held on October 26, 2001, attracting 10,000 visitors over a single afternoon, and have taken place every year since then. Today, the show takes place over two days and features over a dozen participating countries, attracting more than 100,000 visitors (and even over 200,000 in some years). Every year, a new special partner nation is chosen; past special partners have included the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United States.
The event takes place at Leoš Janáček Airport Ostrava and consists of two shows: NATO Days in Ostrava and Czech Air Force Days. NATO Days in Ostrava are Central Europe’s largest air, military, and security show that showcases the armed forces, fire and rescue services, medical rescue services, police forces, prison services, customs administrations, and other units and services of the participating countries. Czech Air Force Days are the official event of the Czech Air Force.
The main program of the event includes a showcase of a wide range of heavy military hardware, police and rescue equipment, flying displays and displays of special forces’ training, and presentations of the latest gear and armaments from various units. This unique event brings together cutting-edge technology used by soldiers, police officers, the municipal police, firefighters, the prison service, customs officers, and other elite units, all in one place.
The program of NATO Days in Ostrava also features various presentations, meetings, seminars, and workshops. In addition to showcasing the latest achievements and trends in the security sphere, the event serves as a networking hub for representatives from the private commercial sector, public institutions, local governments, top executives from participating organizations and partners, and prominent figures from political, commercial, cultural, academic, social, and sports sectors.
Important guests of honor at NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days usually include representatives of the Czech government, the EU and NATO, as well as regional, city, and municipal representatives, military attachés, ambassadors, and military and civilian delegations.
The main organizers of the event are the Jagello 2000 Association, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, Leoš Janáček Airport Ostrava, the Regional Police Directorate of the Moravian-Silesian Region, the Fire and Rescue Service of the Moravian-Silesian Region, and the Ambulance Service of the Moravian-Silesian Region.
Entry to the show is free of charge for the general public. Free admission is one of the main principles of the event because its organizers believe that visitors, as taxpayers, have a right to see what their taxes pay for.
Photo: natodays.cz
