A “bitter gift” from the president for Polish players. “The interests of activists are more important than the interests of athletes”

“We are not inferior to men” – this is the voice of Polish players, who now have the Minister of Sport and Tourism on their side, and with whom the president went to war, blocking the sports act they had been waiting for on Christmas Eve.

– We received a gift from President Duda. I do not hide the fact that this is a bitter gift that not only spoiled the holidays for me, comments the Minister of Sport and Tourism, Sławomir Nitras.

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Hence the appeal of the Polish medalists to the president, in which we read that the act places emphasis on counteracting violence and discrimination in sport, strengthens the position of women and issues of transparency within sports associations.

– You cannot stop this, you cannot ignore this blocking movement – says Robert Korzeniowski, former Polish representative in race walking, multi-medallist Olympic winner.

The president referred the bill to the Constitutional Tribunal, which includes former Law and Justice politicians. First of all, he did not like the provision on parities in sports associations and possible penalties for their lack.

– This act imposes certain solutions, but today there are no obstacles to women sitting on the management boards of sports associations – points out Małgorzata Paprocka, head of the Chancellery of the President.

In the Polish boxing, judo, kayaking and handball associations, the percentage of women – even before the elections – was zero percent. Now it's just a quarter or less.

– He did not consult this act with these ladies, he did not consult this act with athletes, he consulted this decision only with Mr. Piesiewicz – comments Minister Sławomir Nitras.

Radosław Piesiewicz is the president of the Polish Olympic Committee. – The president has received appeals to question this act – points out Małgorzata Paprocka.

Andrzej Duda's decision to refer the bill to the Tribunal, i.e. to de facto block it, is another episode of the war at the top – between the Ministry of Sport and Tourism and the Presidential Palace.

The Minister of Sport has now taken action against President Piesiewicz, who became the head of the Polish Olympic Committee thanks to the support of Andrzej Duda. – As long as people have this mentality, for whom the interests of activists are more important than the interests of athletes, I see no possibility of cooperation, I see no possibility of financing – says Sławomir Nitras.

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Piesiewicz put forward the president's candidacy for a member of the International Olympic Committee, thus blocking the possible promotion of titled Polish athletes.

– Among the 70 independent members, there can only be one member from a given country – says Maja Włoszczowska, member of the International Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission, two-time Olympic vice-champion in mountain biking.

So it could be Andrzej Duda or Maja Włoszczowska. – Or, for example, Robert Korzeniowski or another athlete or activist – adds Maja Włoszczowska.

It so happens that the issue of parity in sports associations – blocked by the president – is recommended by the International Olympic Committee, of which the president wants to become a member.