The symbol of the European Games now in Krynica-Zdrój

Krynica-Zdrój, famous for Poland’s largest health resorts, is the next partner city that received a replica of the flag of the European Games Kraków-Malopolska 2023. The official handover of the symbol of the Games was done by the Marshal of the Malopolska Region Witold Kozłowski and the President of the Organising Committee Marcin Nowak.

Krynica-Zdrój officially joined the list of the organisers of the III European Games on October 20, when the signing of the lease agreement for the Krynica-Zdrój Arena and facilities located on the Hill Park took place. However, on Monday, February 20, a symbolic handover of the flag to the mayor, Piotr Ryba, took place at the Municipal Office in Krynica-Zdrój. The ceremony was attended by Marshal of Małopolska Voivodeship Witold Kozłowski, Mayor of Krynica-Zdrój Piotr Ryba, councilor of the Małopolska Voivodeship Assembly Jadwiga Wójtowicz, MP Patryk Wicher, Deputy Mayor Pawel Maślanka and President of the Organizing Committee Marcin Nowak. Monday’s event was also accompanied by representatives of the uniformed services and children from the Primary School No. 1 named after Mountain Rescue Workers in Krynica-Zdrój.

Guests unanimously stressed that co-creating the largest European multidisciplinary sports event of the year is a great honor for Krynica-Zdrój. Marshal Witold Kozlowski noted that the city will certainly gain even more popularity. “Krynica-Zdrój will be permanently inscribed in the history of the Olympic movement. I think the city will gain a lot, especially in terms of additional promotion. Our common goal is to bring the whole of Małopolska into the salons of European regions, and for this we need to use the powerful promotional move and broadcast the entire event to 40 European countries,” he said.

President of the Organising Committee Marcin Nowak praised the facilities. “Krynica-Zdrój Hill Park is a wonderful place, known to every Pole, and now it will gain another modern element of sports infrastructure. I am convinced that it will serve the residents for many years to come. Another sports facility will join the sports infrastructure of Małopolska. Krynica-Zdrój historically and geographically is a city that every Pole knows about, and if not, it will be certainly talked about after the European Games,” he noted.

In turn, Mayor Piotr Ryba admitted that the city is very well prepared for this year’s Games. “We have already signed contracts with contractors for the modernization of the Krynica-Zdrój Arena. And we can say the same about the track on Hill Park. On Friday we open the tender for the construction of the MTB XCO track,” he announced, and also took the opportunity to thank Krynica for its promotion. “This is a great opportunity for our city. Broadcasts on radio, television and the Internet are a great honor for us, and we will do everything to manage to do it,” he assured.

“This is also your celebration, young people,” MP Patrick Wicher addressed the youth present in the hall. “You will watch idols, athletes who are role models, so that in the future you may also want to feel the spirit of competition. I hope that this event will give you energy and confidence, because what is sport without faith in your abilities,” he added. The councilor of the Małopolska Regional Assembly, Jadwiga Wójtowicz, admitted that the European Games are a very important event for the city. “Very moved, and with great respect, we hand over the flag of the European Games to the town of Krynica-Zdrój. I am glad that Krynica is the organiser of the Games, because every year it becomes a greater rival for the capital of winter sports, Zakopane,” she announced.

Krynica-Zdrój will be the arena for three sports disciplines. Mountain bikers will race on Hill Park, while taekwondo and judo competitions will be held in the Krynica-Zdrój Arena. The stakes will be high, as in all three sports there will be qualification points to be won for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In addition, the mountain biking competition will have the status of European Championships, and in the case of judo, the European Team Championships will be held. In the picturesque setting of Hill Park, there will additionally be a 100 km mountain running competition. This will be one of the side events.

The III European Games Kraków-Małopolska is the largest multidisciplinary sports event of 2023 on the Old Continent. More than seven thousand athletes across Europe for 12 days will fight not only for medals of the Games or European Championships, but also for tickets to Olympic Games in Paris.