WARSAW – On 25-26 October 2019 a solemn celebration of the centennial anniversary of the Polish Olympic Committee took place in Warsaw. To mark this important milestone in the history of Polish sports, guests from all over Europe and even beyond came together to the Polish capital. The General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees, timed with the celebration, ensured the presence of key figures from the Olympic Movement, including IOC President Thomas Bach, EOC President Janez Kocijančič, ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg and many others.
From the very moment of foundation of the Polish Olympic Committee in 1919, Polish sport was closely linked with university sports. The University Sports Association of Poland, AZS, founded 10 years before the Polish NOC, helped to shape many national sporting legends, including Halina Konopacka, the first Olympic gold medallist in the history of Poland. In its turn, the Polish Olympic Committee has always shown support to the university sports movement in the country.
To underline the link between Olympic and university sports in Poland, as well as to recognise the role of the Polish NOC in the development of the university sports movement in the country, FISU Steering Committee decided last month to present the highest FISU Award, Jean Petitjean Medal, to the Polish Olympic Committee.
Poland was not among the participating nations of the first ever international university competition, World Student Games in Paris in 1923, organised by Jean Petitjean. However, Warsaw hosted the second edition of the Games in 1924, and Polish student athletes dominated the competition.
FISU President Oleg Matytsin, joined by Vice President Marian Dymalski, presented the award to the President of Polish NOC Andrzej Krasnicki on the first day of celebrations, during the official dinner in the headquarters of the Polish Olympic Committees. On the second day the guests, including President of Poland Andrzej Duda, were offered a spectacular performance in the Grand Theater – National Opera in Warsaw.
