In Tarnów preparations are underway for the European Games
The big countdown to the 3rd European Games Krakow-Malopolska 2023 is underway. An important point of this event will be Tarnow. The second largest city in Malopolska will host competition in four disciplines. Among the city’s residents, the climbing wall battle will be particularly anticipated.
Tarnow can boast of being called the Polish pearl of the Renaissance. Not surprisingly, the charm of the city was appreciated by the CNN television network, which listed Tarnow among the fifteen most beautiful smaller cities in Europe. While in Tarnow, it is especially worth visiting the Old Town and taking a walk on St. Martin’s Mountain, where you can admire the entire panorama of the city from the ruins of a medieval castle. Tarnow attracts tourists especially in the summer, as it is called the Polish heat pole for a reason. It is also an important cultural and historical center in our country. For many years the city has been a meeting place of many cultures. It is in Tarnow that the world’s oldest museum of Roma history is located.
In late June and early July, Tarnow will also turn into an important venue for European sports. Several investments had to be planned in connection with the city’s hosting of the European Games. During the ceremonial handover of the Olympic flag, the mayor of Tarnów assured that all work was going according to plan. – On the technical side, we are getting closer and closer to declaring readiness for the competition. Whoever will be in Mościce will still see cranes and construction work. We already know for sure that all investments will be carried out on time, so by the end of June we will be able to receive the facility, and then the athletes themselves – transferred Roman Ciepiela.
The largest development created specifically for the European Games will be a beach sports complex. About a thousand seats will be prepared for fans in the stands. The venue for the competition in beach handball and beach soccer will become the Tarnów district of Mościce. This is a very sporty neighborhood, as the city’s “Jaskolcze Gniazdo” speedway and soccer stadium and Arena Jaskolka Tarnów are also located near the Beach Sports Center.
The venue for the sports competition will also be the facilities of the Academy of Applied Sciences located in the complex of buildings of the Department of Health. This is where athletes will compete for medals in sport climbing. A specially prepared outdoor wall for both competitions will be erected on the AoAS grounds, with a temporary grandstand built so that as many people as possible can follow the rivalries of the top athletes. It is worth mentioning that it is from Tarnów the world champion in this discipline, Natalia Kalucka, comes from.
The last discipline to be played in Tarnow will be badminton. The competition will be simultaneously a European championship and a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The competition will be held at the largest arena in the city, the Arena Jaskolka Tarnow. The facility was completed in 2019 and has since been the venue for many sporting events. It was on the court of the “Jaskolka” that the 2022 European U22 volleyball championship was held. With the European Games in mind, four courts will be designated for badminton competitions, including one for warm-ups.
An important place of work for media representatives outside the sports venues will be the Mościce Art Center, where the City Media Center will be located. There, workstations, a conference room and a relaxation area for journalists will be prepared.
Tarnow, as a co-organizer of the European Games, has received an amount of almost PLN 100 million for investment from external sources. A significant portion of the funds, as much as PLN 20 million, has been earmarked for upgrades to the stadium where beach sports competitions will be held. After the European Games, the venue will continue to serve the local community in a slightly different capacity. According to the plans, football matches will be played there, including matches of the First Football League. For the reconstruction of the old pool complex, the city received PLN 25 million from the state budget. After the EG, the created complex will be made available to the public as a summer water park. Funds in the amount of PLN 31 million were raised for road tasks, including road repairs and the construction of a bus terminal with parking lots. The remainder of the funds raised – about PLN 7 million – will be used for modernization work carried out at the facilities. These will include administrative safeguards and equipment, or the renovation of the Municipal Sports House, which will be turned into a training area for athletes for the duration of the European Games.