Minister of Sport and Tourism Sławomir Nitras believes that the Olympic Games can be organized in Poland. He emphasizes that this is a great project and invites everyone to participate in it – not only famous people, not only athletes, but also ordinary people and politicians of all stripes.
Olympic Games in Poland – the idea may seem out of space, but it has support among athletes. – I'm always in favor of dreaming. I think that in my case it really worked and still works since childhood – confesses tennis player Magda Linette. – Every young athlete dreams of becoming a champion or Olympic champion one day. This may also be our real dream – says two-time Olympic judo champion Waldemar Legień.
For athletes, the dream of the Olympics seems completely natural. – High cost, but it would be a huge marketing advantage for our country – says former basketball player Marcin Gortat.
Poland could organize the Olympic Games in 16 years at the earliest, and the idea is for the entire society to share this dream. – If the sports community, if the people of Polish sport, do not prove to the Polish society that it is worth creating this project, it will not succeed – emphasizes Sławomir Nitras, Minister of Sport and Tourism.
The point of reference will be the Games in Paris, which united France, gave it a sense of pride and convinced it that the billions spent on sports were not wasted. – They were such a great incentive to take up sports, they also gave a lot of positive emotions and many cool programs that were created during the games are still being continued – says Maja Włoszczowska, member of the International Olympic Committee, Olympic vice-champion in mountain biking.
The issue of promoting sports in Polish society
In order to change society's attitude towards organizing the Olympics, we need to change the attitude towards sport. – We are not a society that lives and functions in the culture of sports – says Tomasz Chamera, vice-president of the Polish Olympic Committee and president of the Polish Sailing Association.
– Do we have more sports fields or more liquor stores in the centers of Polish cities? Poles spend 0.5 percent on sports and 3.6 percent on alcohol, says Sławomir Nitras. He proposes a complete change in the functioning of sport and the promotion of universal sport.
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The minister spoke for two hours – he listed social, economic and even geopolitical benefits. The room listened to him with attention and – as it turned out – acceptance.
– We need to break these old patterns – says Apoloniusz Tajner, coach and sports activist, former president of the Polish Ski Association. – We are a strong country in Europe, so why not? – says Sebastian Chmara from the Polish Athletics Association. – This idea for change, for reorganization, makes sense, not only because we have the Olympics, but because in the future Polish sport will be where it should be – adds Dariusz Łukaszewski, president of the Polish Tennis Association.
Games beyond political divisions
The minister revealed that although the project is called Warsaw 2040, the competition would be held in many cities in Poland. – We need to involve the entire country, we need to make the entire society feel proud and participate – emphasizes Sławomir Nitras.
The project must have full political support, because it is a task for not one, but several terms, which is why the minister recalled the words of President Andrzej Duda, which were spoken in 2023. – This date is important and I, as a minister representing a different political option, will emphasize it very strongly, because the Olympics in Poland, this idea, this fact, can only exist when it unites us – says Sławomir Nitras.
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The president of the Polish Olympic Committee, who is in a dispute with the minister of sport, also in court, came to Sławomir Nitras' speech and listened to him, but had nothing to say about the new Olympic strategy.
During his conference, the Minister of Sport assured that there was money for the Games and announced that Poland would be ready to submit an application to the IOC in January 2026.
Main photo source: PAP/Szymon Pulcyn