Only 22 MPs voted against the amendment to the Sports Act. As many as 178 abstained from voting – all from PiS. Minister Sławomir Nitras did not hide his satisfaction with the passage of the project. – Thanks to this act, athletes will have an influence on who governs Polish sports associations for the first time. This act gives athletes the right to vote on the authorities of sports associations, he emphasized, quoted by the government website gov.pl.
Athletes will influence relationships. Women will appear in federations. Big changes to the Sports Act
What is it about? This is one of the most important changes proposed in the amendment. Now the boards of Polish sports associations will have to include a representative of the players of the national team of a given association. This means that, for example, the Polish national team players will, in theory, have a direct impact on decisions made at the highest level in some time.
There will be more changes in management boards. Women will appear in an environment usually dominated by men. The legislator will achieve this goal by guaranteeing that associations with two to five management board members must include at least one person of each gender. In larger federations it should be at least 30 percent. The same principle is to apply to trade union internal control bodies.
Sportswomen will also benefit. Pregnant women will receive greater support – the period of receiving a sports scholarship after giving birth by members of national teams will be extended from 6 to 12 months. The amount of the scholarship received during pregnancy will also increase.
The Ministry of Sport also wants to force sports associations to make changes regarding violence and discrimination. Too often, issues like this are swept under the rug – In the context of attacks on judges, he drew attention to this, among others: former football referee Rafał Rostkowski.
The act also aims to encourage athletes to continue their education. The Minister of Sport will be able to grant an allowance to athletes who go to college. A one-time “bonus” – in the amount of twice the scholarship – will be available to athletes who pass their high school leaving exams.
If everything goes according to plan, the amendment will enter into force on January 1. According to journalist Mateusz Miga, federations will have six months to change their statutes and implement the changes. In theory, the new law will be felt most quickly by the Polish Football Association – elections in this association are to be held in August. In practice? It may be different. In the pages TVP Sport the journalist stated that due to the planned changes, Cezary Kulesza may postpone them to an earlier date.