A breakthrough moment for women in Polish sports. “I am extremely happy”
On Wednesday (July 17), the Senate of the Republic of Poland held a meeting on amending the Sports Act. The special conference brought a lot of important information.
Minister of Sport and Tourism Sławomir Nitras, Marshal of the Senate Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska and sports stars, both current and past, including Justyna Kowalczyk-Tekieli, Monika Pyrek, but also sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz. During the meeting, one could see that the time has come for a breakthrough for women in Polish sports.
The government is focusing on women in sports. The amendment is ready
Minister Nitras emphasized the great importance of women in the sports space. He himself, which he has emphasized practically from the beginning of his management of the ministry, consistently wants to focus on strengthening the position and role of women.
According to the bill, women are to make up at least 30 percent of the authorities in sports association boards. The amendment is also to increase protection for women during pregnancy and after childbirth. Sports associations and clubs are also to introduce anti-discrimination regulations.
– I am extremely pleased that Polish sport has a strong enough minister who is not afraid of women. And wants to let them in. We know very well that a strong, tough man will not be afraid of women. And those who do not want to cooperate with them are simply afraid of them. They are afraid that a woman prepared for a high position is usually better prepared than a man who is also applying for this position. So thank you, I am very happy. At the moment I am on my own leave, which I earned through hard work. But when the minister called and asked for a meeting to get out of this leave on this matter, I volunteered without hesitation. Because I believe that Polish sport – if this wave does not come naturally, so that women can participate in power, also govern themselves – needs to be helped – admitted Justyna Kowalczyk-Tekieli.
The importance of the mental sphere in sports
During the meeting, the floor was given to sports psychologist, the aforementioned Daria Abramowicz. She is known primarily for her fruitful cooperation with Iga Świątek. During the conference in the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Abramowicz emphasized how important the mental sphere is, which has been little discussed for years – both in terms of professional and amateur sports. Abramowicz also spoke about combating violence, which is to be ensured by one of the points of the amendment to the Sports Act.
– I am very grateful that the draft amendment includes places and spaces to introduce systemic solutions on how to take care of counteracting violence. Also in the context of the increasing role of women in sports. And I hope that there will be space for this, so that we can talk about specific strategies that are already in place in the world. In organizations such as the American Olympic Committee, as well as the largest sports leagues in the world, the NFL, or the WTA organization, with which I deal a lot on a daily basis. Many solutions in the field of education, but also supervision, appear in these spaces. Educational platforms, the need for activists, coaches, players, and also their loved ones to undergo training – admitted Abramowicz.
It is worth noting that at the Olympic Games in Paris, a total of 213 people will be seen in white and red colors. 113 women and 100 men, for the first time in history there will be more women at the Summer Olympics than men in the Polish team.
