An organized meeting of the presidents of Polish sports associations with the Minister of Sport and Tourism Sławomir Nitras, organized, ended with an additional meeting. When the minister left the room, the CEOs talked about the situation in the Polish Football Association and the person of Radosław Piesiewicz. More and more representatives of Polish unions are dissatisfied with its functioning. Several presidents and activists came out with the initiative to appeal to Piesiewicz for “good Polish sport” to resign from their function. 22 CEOs signed under the letter, petition.
“In connection with the lack of any reflection.” 5 activists came out
CEOs – As we wrote – They point out their comments on the use of the committee's money, the remuneration of the president, which was not received by any predecessor, strange contracts with sponsors and opaque sharing money on relationships, lack of information on financial operations for the Audit Committee, dragging the payments of Olympic bonuses for athletes. Onet later posted the full content of the letter. We also read in it, among others:
“PKol, which has over 100 years of tradition, during your rule was brought to the role of the office of dubious quality of your person's promotion.” There is also a fragment regarding the crisis in cooperation with the Polish Cycling Association, which weakened Polish chances of Olympic starts in this discipline. However, this most important fragment of the letter is like this:
“In connection with the lack of any reflection on your part and, above all, the lack of perspective to improve the current situation, we are signed, we call you to resign from the position of the President of the Polish Olympic Committee for the good of Polish sport and Olympism.”
As we said, 22 activists immediately signed the letter, although some had doubts about it. Some convinced not to go to a letter of exchange with the President of PKol, organize a meeting and talk about problems. This suggested, among others PZPN president Cezary Kulesza – he, as well as four more people, decided to leave the room. Andrzej Supron (Polish Wrestling Association) was also in this group, who tried to avoid entering the war path, Mirosław Minkina (president of the Polish Hockey Association), which has very good relations with the previous Sport Minister Kamil Bortniczuk, and Rafał Tataruch (Polish Union of skating Fast), which caught the official delegation of activists for the Olympic Games in Paris. Of course, there were no skaters at this competition.
Interestingly, most activists from 10 unions that did not receive Olympic sports qualifications, and whose employees and accompanying persons in Paris were found, did not sign a letter for the dismissal of Piesiewicz. On the Parisian list and the appeal for dismissal, there is only one name of the president. It is worth noting that in the case of several unions, the presidents changed in autumn and those who used the hospitality of the PKol during the holidays, now they are not sitting on the presidential chairs. Another person who is not on the list of signatures under the letter, and who was in Warsaw at the meeting, is the president of the Polish Surfing Association, Jan Sadowski. Two people who are not in the signatures or who were not in Warsaw told us that they were still considering joining the petition.
Valentine's answer Piesiewicz: Many false theses
CEOs who signed a letter hoped that they would mobilize Piesiewicz to reflect, also directing a more informal message to him that there are more and more dissatisfied activists. Activists who also have votes on the PKol management board. The management board may, in turn, be submitted at the meeting for dismissal of the president. Most votes are needed, exactly 2/3. Are there so many of them? This is a question that is difficult to answer for now, but the opposition group towards Piesiewicz is optimistic about it.
Piesiewicz, he reacted to the events and a document from the meeting of the presidents of unions quickly, although probably different than everyone expected. On February 14, he wrote a letter and sent him to 22 unions that asked him to resign. We compared several such documents – the ones we saw look the same. Only headers and addressees change in them.
Piesiewicz in his letter reports that the letter to him contains “many false theses”, that “Audit Committee, has not demonstrated any irregularities in the functioning of PKOI” and that he “appreciating the concern for the good of PKOI” will explain everything and complete the doubts ” In a bilateral conversation “, which he counts as soon as possible.
The full content of Piesiewicz's letter to union activists (probably everyone got the same document) we present below.
Dear Mr. President,
I got acquainted with a great attention with the letter addressed to me, signed by the President, regarding issues related to the Polish Olympic Committee. I regret to say that it contains many false theses, to which I will gladly refer to that the president has full knowledge in the field of PKOI's activities and conducted inspections. Of course, as a member of the PKOI management board, you always have the opportunity to ask questions and dialogue during meetings of this body, but I will be happy to meet the president to explain in the bilateral conversation the doubts and allegations contained in the mentioned letter.
I will only mention that the internal supervisory authority in PKOI, as in other associations, is the Audit Committee, which has not shown any irregularities in the functioning of PKOI. The statement that it showed a lack of transparency in PKOI is not so much an abuse as a false statement. However, the inspection carried out by the President of the Capital City of Warsaw – whose results, as you claims, arouse anxiety in conducting the financial management of the Committee in the scope indicated by you – because it is not even authorized to do so – neither control nor other explanatory proceedings. I am also surprised by raising the issue of the lack of legal grounds that would regulate the manner and legal form of my remuneration – since the PKO1 statute clearly defines (Article 44, point 8) that the PKOI Management Board is responsible for the financial management, which approved the form and amount of the remuneration of the incumbent president PKOI.
This makes me aware that the magazine you addressed to me is based only on media reports that do not cover with facts. Similarly in terms of settlements with the Polish cycling association, which you mention – shows the absolute misunderstanding of this issue, probably resulting from a lack of knowledge in this respect, which requires supplementation.
However, understanding perfectly, the situation in which the presidents of Polish sports associations found themselves in the current reality and appreciating the care of the President for the good of PKOI, the more I am convinced of the need for a sincere and open conversation, to which Mr. President is now in a convenient time and place.
Counting on a quick meeting, I combine words of respect,
Radosław Piesiewicz
President