In a year where Polish university student athletes excelled in the field of play, the Polish University Sports Association (AZS) honoured the individuals and organisations who most contributed to the development of university sport at its Annual Gala in the southern city of Opole on October 19.
The 2017 Annual Gala gave special recognition to two athletes. Joanna Linkiewicz’s silver in the 400 meters was medal No. 500 in the history of Poland at the Universiade while Paweł Fajdek won his fourth Universiade hammer title
During the ceremony, members of Polish University Sports Association summed up the academic sport season of 2016-2017 and officially opened the new university sports season.
Special guests honored organizers with their presence. This group of distinguished guests included the representative of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, the authorities of Opole, the President of EUSA – Mr. Adam Roczek, and rectors and representatives of university authorities from all over Poland.
The President of the Polish University Sports Association (AZS) on the awards stage with a representative of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism
AZS President, Prof. Alojzy Nowak, opened the ceremony. Prof. Nowak spoke about the award AZS itself received from FISU in Taipei –The Best University Sports Federation.
Prof. Nowak highlighted that this prize is the result of hard work of many generations. He also gave a special thanks to all institutions and companies supporting university sport and to FISU Vice-President Marian Dymalski for his work in international structures and how this contributed to AZS’s success.
The Gala was also great opportunity to congratulate medalist of international competition. This past university season, Polish students won 12 medals at the Winter Universiade in Almaty and 25 at the Summer Universiade in Taipei. Special awards were given to Joanna Linkiewicz, whose silver at 400 meters was medal No. 500 in the history of Polish performances at the Universiades, and to Pawel Fajdek. The hammer thrower won his fourth gold medal at this year’s Summer Univesiade in Taipei.
Polish student athletes had quite a year in 2017, winning 12 medals at the Winter Universiade in Almaty and 25 at the Summer Universiade in Taipei.
The University of Warsaw, which dominated EUC in beach volleyball; the University of Rzeszow, organizer and winner of EUC in volleyball; and the University of Opole for its success at EUC in badminton received awards for the best achievements at the 2017 European Universities Championships (EUC).
The Gala was also the time to sum up the Polish Universities Championships. This past year more than 15,000 students from nearly 200 universities competed in 43 disciplines.
AZS Gala winners in the best university award categories
The Academy of Physical Education Katowice won the medals classification in 2016/2016, finishing ahead of the University of Warsaw and the Lodz University of Technology.
In the most important – general classification of the PUC the University of Warsaw received the title. Second place went to AGH University of Science and Technology and Gdansk University of Technology won third place.
Young Activists on stage during the 2017 Gala. The award recipients were recognised for their individual contributions to furthering the university sports movement.
In an annual tradition of the Gala, AZS gave individual distinctions to young sports activists. The organizers of the Integrated Polish Championships of AZS, originators of the first esports universities competitions were awarded. The recipients were awarded the “Eugeniusz Pietrasik” prize.
Source: Polish University Sports Association (AZS)