ČTK reporter wins World Press Photo prize

The Hague/Prague, Feb 15 (CTK) - Czech news agency CTK's photographer Roman Vondrous has won the first prize in the category of sports picture stories in the prestigious World Press Photo contest, its organisers announced on the contest's website Friday.

Vondrous was awarded for his series of photographs from the Grand Pardubice (Velka pardubicka) steeplechase.

"I consider it the greatest success, the greatest award that a photographer can achieve. I appreciate it very much along with the fact that I have succeeded in winning this award thanks to my work in CTK," Vondrous said in reaction to the news.

The World Press Photo main award went to Swedish photographer Paul Hansen, from Dagens Nyheter daily paper, for his photograph from a funeral of two Palestinian children, killed in an Israeli missile attack in Gaza.

Other Czech photographers were also awarded in World Press Photo, established in 1955, in the past.

Czech-born Antonin Kratochvil, living in the United States, won in the category of portrait stories in 1997.

Besides, Czech press photographers Jan Sibik, from Reflex weekly, and Michal Novotny, from Lidove noviny daily, finished third in this international competition several years ago.