Blab Sports
Prague-Based AP Photographer Petr David Josek: A Career Spanning Four World Cups and Eight Olympics
Petr David Josek has been a steady presence in the world of photojournalism for more than two decades. The Prague‑based photographer began working with the Associated Press (AP) in 2002 and became a full‑time staffer in 2011 when he was assigned to the AP bureau in Prague.
Josek’s work has taken him from the front lines of conflict to the global stages of sport. He has covered the Iraq War, a conflict that drew AP reporters and photographers into the heart of the Middle East in the early 2000s. The assignment required a blend of safety awareness and the ability to capture the human dimension of war.
In the realm of sport, Josek has photographed eight Olympic Games – five Summer Games and three Winter Games – and four FIFA World Cups. His Olympic coverage spans the 2004 Athens Games through the 2020 Tokyo Games, which were held in 2021 due to the pandemic. The Winter Olympic assignments include the 2006 Turin Games, the 2010 Vancouver Games, and the 2014 Sochi Games.
The four World Cups that Josek has covered include the 2006 Germany tournament, the 2010 South Africa tournament, the 2014 Brazil tournament, and the 2018 Russia tournament. In each event, he has documented moments that have become part of the sport’s collective memory, from opening ceremonies to decisive goals.
Josek’s role at the Prague bureau is to cover news and sporting events that affect the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The AP bureau in Prague is one of 235 AP news bureaus located in 94 countries worldwide. The agency, headquartered in New York City, was founded in 1846 and operates as a not‑for‑profit cooperative.
The AP’s photo division, in which Josek works, has earned 36 Pulitzer Prizes for photography, a share of the agency’s total of 60 Pulitzer awards. The division covers a wide range of subjects, including breaking news, politics, and sports. The photographs that Josek takes are distributed to AP’s member newspapers, radio and television broadcasters, and online platforms.
In addition to his Olympic and World Cup assignments, Josek has covered a variety of other sporting events in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. His work has appeared in AP’s daily news feeds, in feature stories, and in photo essays that accompany written coverage.
The AP’s coverage model relies on a network of photographers who can respond quickly to events as they unfold. Josek’s experience in conflict zones and large sporting events demonstrates his ability to work under pressure and to capture images that convey both the immediacy of the moment and the broader context.
Josek’s career illustrates the breadth of the AP’s global reach. From the streets of Prague to the stadiums of Rio de Janeiro, his photographs help bring international news and sport to audiences around the world.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, the AP will again deploy its photographers to cover the tournament, which will be the first World Cup hosted by three nations. While Josek has not yet been confirmed for that assignment, his track record suggests he would be a strong candidate for future AP coverage of major sporting events.
In summary, Petr David Josek has built a distinguished career as a photojournalist for the Associated Press. His work spans conflict zones, Olympic Games, World Cups, and everyday news in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Through his images, he has helped the AP fulfill its mission of delivering timely, accurate, and compelling visual news to a global audience.
Josek’s work has taken him from the front lines of conflict to the global stages of sport. He has covered the Iraq War, a conflict that drew AP reporters and photographers into the heart of the Middle East in the early 2000s. The assignment required a blend of safety awareness and the ability to capture the human dimension of war.
In the realm of sport, Josek has photographed eight Olympic Games – five Summer Games and three Winter Games – and four FIFA World Cups. His Olympic coverage spans the 2004 Athens Games through the 2020 Tokyo Games, which were held in 2021 due to the pandemic. The Winter Olympic assignments include the 2006 Turin Games, the 2010 Vancouver Games, and the 2014 Sochi Games.
The four World Cups that Josek has covered include the 2006 Germany tournament, the 2010 South Africa tournament, the 2014 Brazil tournament, and the 2018 Russia tournament. In each event, he has documented moments that have become part of the sport’s collective memory, from opening ceremonies to decisive goals.
Josek’s role at the Prague bureau is to cover news and sporting events that affect the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The AP bureau in Prague is one of 235 AP news bureaus located in 94 countries worldwide. The agency, headquartered in New York City, was founded in 1846 and operates as a not‑for‑profit cooperative.
The AP’s photo division, in which Josek works, has earned 36 Pulitzer Prizes for photography, a share of the agency’s total of 60 Pulitzer awards. The division covers a wide range of subjects, including breaking news, politics, and sports. The photographs that Josek takes are distributed to AP’s member newspapers, radio and television broadcasters, and online platforms.
In addition to his Olympic and World Cup assignments, Josek has covered a variety of other sporting events in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. His work has appeared in AP’s daily news feeds, in feature stories, and in photo essays that accompany written coverage.
The AP’s coverage model relies on a network of photographers who can respond quickly to events as they unfold. Josek’s experience in conflict zones and large sporting events demonstrates his ability to work under pressure and to capture images that convey both the immediacy of the moment and the broader context.
Josek’s career illustrates the breadth of the AP’s global reach. From the streets of Prague to the stadiums of Rio de Janeiro, his photographs help bring international news and sport to audiences around the world.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, the AP will again deploy its photographers to cover the tournament, which will be the first World Cup hosted by three nations. While Josek has not yet been confirmed for that assignment, his track record suggests he would be a strong candidate for future AP coverage of major sporting events.
In summary, Petr David Josek has built a distinguished career as a photojournalist for the Associated Press. His work spans conflict zones, Olympic Games, World Cups, and everyday news in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Through his images, he has helped the AP fulfill its mission of delivering timely, accurate, and compelling visual news to a global audience.
