SPORT

Polish sport, like all the other aspects of life, came back to normal in 1989, when Poland returned to the family of free and democratic countries. In communist times, its function was to serve the needs of propaganda, living a lie with regard to its amateur status. At the same time sport was one of few enclaves of authenticity and relative independence. It brought people happiness and respite. After all, sportsmen competed in stadiums for the glory of Poland and for their personal satisfaction rather than for communism.

Pol and has never been such a sporting power as the USA, the Soviet Union or Germany, although it was almost always in the world's top flight. At the Olympic Games, the Poles won a total of 231 medal, including 51 gold medals. This impressive record should be increased by several hundred more won at world and European championships.

Polish sportsmen were leaders both in athletics and boxing, football, volleyball, fencing, cycling, weight-lifting, wrestling, judo, shooting, yachting, ski jumping. In some disciplines they even created their own, inimitable style: the "Polish school of Boxing", based upon a sophisticated technique, made our boxers the stars of European rings for many years. The athletics "Wunderteam" or the Polish school of fencing (sabre, foil, epee) were equally prestigious.

Pol and continues to produce top class sportsmen today. The best walker in the world is Robert Korzeniowski, the best sailor Mateusz Kusznierewicz. The judo champion Paweł Nastula, the weight-lifter Andrzej Cofalik and the whole wrestling team still cannot find serious challengers. The most popular discipline - football - is still seeking to repeat the successes of the past when we struck gold at the 1972 Olympics, or came third in the World Cups of 1974 and 1982. Our young and talented generation is the harbinger of a revival. Young sportsmen like Mariusz Piekarski, who is the star of the famous Brazilian club Flamenco, are appreciated even in the most prestigious leagues.

Pol ish sport is intensively broadening and modernising its infrastructure. In the country's capital, Warsaw, this year alone, seven new swimming-pools are being constructed. Disciplines which were little known previously and which can be taken up regardless of age - such as golf - are gaining popularity. The Poles increasingly regard sport and physical recreation as a useful form of active relaxation, a natural lifestyle. As a result, record-seeking professionalism is becoming broad based. Poland is developing intensively in every respect. Sport is fuelling this development, being an outward manifestation of the country's the energy and dynamism.

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