A traditional athletics meeting has been held regularly in Ostrava – Vítkovice since 1961. In past years, great world-class athletes such as Alberto Juantorena, Sebastian Coe, Marita Koch and Steve Cram have competed in front of our spectators. Of course, top-notch domestic athletes such as Jarmila Kratochvílová, Helena Fibingerová and Taťána Kocembová wouldn’t miss the event either.

The rich history of the meeting was interrupted in 1999, when the meeting was not held due to the apparent lack of interest of sponsors. This fault was rectified in 2000 by the Persport Company, which handled the marketing and organization of the meeting. One year later, the companies Persport Group and TK Plus Prostějov became co-organizers of the meeting. The goal was clear, to make the meeting into one of the most prestigious world-class athletic events with a strong reputation.

Since the 2001 meeting, Česká sportovní oversees the organization of the event. Already this year, thanks to its Top Team, two domestic world record-holders, Jan Železný (javelin) and Roman Šebrle (decathlon) made appearances in front of a sold-out stadium of Vítkovice spectators. In addition to this, renowned world champions such as Colin Jackson, Steve Backley, Donovan Bailey and Wilson Boit Kipketer also competed at the meeting.

The high standard set by this successful year was nevertheless easily surpassed in 2002. As a matter of fact, Marion Jones, the best athlete in the world, entered and, as expected, won the 200-meter sprint competition. She flew over from the United States specially to compete at the “Zlatá tretra” (Golden Spikes) Meeting. Alesja Turov of Belarus crowned the meeting with a world record in the 3000-meter hurdles. The phenomenal Mutola from Mozambique won the 800-meter run. "I had no idea what great fans I would find in Ostrava. If you want me, I would be happy to come again sometime," declared a smiling Marion Jones to the fans right after running at the sold-out stadium. "Zlatá tretra is a fantastic meeting, at which I’ll never miss a start. I would really regret it," confides world record-holder Jan Železný, for whom the Zlatá tretra 2002 was the only start to the year at home.

Thanks to the successful handling of the event in 2002, the International Athletics Federation has classified the Zlatá tretra Meeting in 2003 among Super Grand Prix category meetings.