Pavel handed over four White Lions. The quartet of awardees has already experienced the ceremony with medals once.

This year, President Petr Pavel awarded the highest state honors to four individuals, including gymnast Věra Čáslavská and director Miloš Forman. The awards were presented on October 28 in the Vladislav Hall. Čáslavská, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist, received the Order of the White Lion II class, recognizing her athletic achievements and her courageous stance for freedom during the 1968 Olympics. Helena Illnerová, a leading biochemist, was also honored with the same order for her groundbreaking research. Forman, known for films like "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," received the Order of the White Lion III class. Actress Iva Janžurová, celebrated for her contributions to film and theater, was similarly recognized. This ceremony follows Pavel's earlier honors to Baltic presidents in the spring.