The amendment of the athletics Act, signed by president Andrzej Duda, opens fresh opportunities for medalists of the Good Will Games. According to the changes introduced, the alleged Olympic pension will be able to collect more people, which is an appreciation for their contribution to the improvement of Polish sport.
Extension of Authorised Folder
According to the President's Chancellery, the amendment of the Act of 5 December 2024 amending the Sports Act introduces crucial changes to Article 36(1). "The intent of the Act ... is to extend [...] the catalogue of persons entitled to a cash benefit (so-called Olympic pension) from the state budget to representatives of Poland who won the medal for the Games of Good Will held in 1986 – 2001. The Act will enter into force on 1 April 2025," the authoritative message states.
Good Will Games: athletics and diplomacy
The Goodwill Games are global sports competitions organized from 1986 to 2001 at Ted Turner's initiative. The competition arose in consequence to political tensions between the United States and the russian Union, which led to boycotts of the Olympic Games in Moscow (1980) and Los Angeles (1984). The goal of the Games was to advance relationship and knowing between nations through sport. The first competition was held in 1986 in Moscow.
How many players will benefit from the fresh rules?
Poland represented 35 medalists at the Good Wola Games, of which 9 of them besides won Olympic medals and are already receiving an Olympic retirement. The bill's amendment opens the way to this benefit for 26 more people.
Among the qualified were:
- Joanna Burzyńska (sailing),
- Eva Kasprzyk (light athletics),
- Andrzej Basik (judo),
- Wiesław Błach (judo),
- Piotr Krukowski (load lifting),
- Wanda Panfil (light athletics),
- Grzegorz Myszkowski (sailing),
- Aneta Arak-Goska (judo),
- Elżbieta Urbańczyk-Baumann (Canoeing),
- Barbara Hajcel (Canoeing),
- Katarzyna Skorupińska (artistic gymnastics),
- Piotr Rysiukiewicz (light athletics),
- Tomasz Czubak (light athletics),
- Piotr Haczek (light athletics),
- Robert Maćkowiak (drug athletics),
- Dorota Siudek and Mariusz Siudek (figure skating),
- Bartosz Kizierowski (floating),
- Paweł Najdek (lifting loads),
- Krystyna Toy-Danilczyk (light athletics),
- Iwona Kowalewska-Dąbrowska (modern five-bit),
- Anna Bajan (modern five-bit),
- Barbara Kotowska-Fiddler (modern five-bit),
- Wiesław Chmielewski (modern five-bit),
- Paweł Olszewski (modern five-bit),
- Piotr Maciaszczyk (modern five-bit).
The importance of the amendment for Polish sport
The fresh rules are not only an expression of appreciation for the achievements of athletes, but besides a step towards a more complete appreciation of the past of Polish athletics and its heroes. The introduction of the alleged Olympic pension for medalists of the Good Wola Games emphasizes the importance of their successes and the impact they had on building a affirmative image of Poland in the world.
What's next?
The Act will enter into force on 1 April 2025 and the first recipients will benefit from the fresh regulations in the same year. Thanks to this, not only symbolic recognition, but besides real financial support, which is an crucial motion for those who represented Poland internationally.
Continued here:
Duda signs a fresh of the Olympic Pensions Act for medalists of the Good Will Games
