"I had one night to make a decision and pack my belongings"

I AM LIKE A LITTLE SISTER AMONG THE POLISH ATHLETES

I feel very grateful to the Polish girls because they helped me with everything and supported me all the way through.

I AM LIKE A LITTLE SISTER AMONG THE POLISH ATHLETES

The first time I was scared was when I saw a military plane overhead. I had a panic attack. I was standing there and couldn't move. I was running out of air. After a while, this became something normal for me. It turns out that you can get used to anything. Even the most horrible atrocities, even war...

I didn't think about training. It was dangerous in the country; the roads were mined. I got an offer to go to Poland. My coach told me that I could join a team in Toruń. Everything happened so fast. I had one night to make a decision, think everything through and pack my belongings. My parents said: don't think, just go. I took only the most essential things.

I’m very grateful to the Polish girls because they helped me with everything and supported me all the way through. They taught me a lot of new things about cycling. They made me feel comfortable, as if I were their little sister. They helped me find my bearings in a foreign city. I could always count on them, ask them for help. Polish people have done a lot for the Ukrainians.


Natalia Safroniuk, a 18-year-old road cyclist from Ukraine

 

 

 

Fot. Łukasz Matel / Kurier Poranny / Gazeta Współczesna / Polska Press / East News

Fot. Tomasz Czachorowski / Nasze Miasto / Polska Press; Fot. Karina Krystosiak / REPORTER / East News; Fot. Łukasz Matel / Kurier Poranny / Gazeta Współczesna / Polska Press / East News

 

The morning of 24 February 2022 changed the face of Europe and the world. Russia attacked Ukraine and started a brutal war. On one side an invaded, independent country, on the other a brutal aggressor without any rules. From the first hours, Poland showed great solidarity with its Ukrainian friends. Aid provided to war refugees, political action on the international stage, humanitarian and military support – this is how we have helped, continue to help and will continue to help.

Among those defending the homeland were also Ukrainian athletes. Many of them competed in international events until recently, as did athletes from Poland. At the moment of trial, they rushed to the front or, by competing in sports arenas, show strength of spirit and bear witness that Ukraine shall never surrender.

At the moment of danger, they could count on the help of Polish colleagues, sports associations, clubs and ordinary good people. We offered accommodation and training opportunities, but above all the support of big-hearted people. Pressure from Poland helped to deprive Russia of prestigious sporting events and exclude Russian athletes from many international competitions. Our example was followed by other countries declaring that relations with Russia in the area of sport were not possible. Solidarity has proved to be of great importance.

Today, we strongly oppose the International Olympic Committee's initial proposal to allow Russian athletes to compete in the Olympics under certain conditions. We speak out against the bestiality of the aggressor and recall examples of Polish solidarity towards athletes from Ukraine. We show that their lives were destroyed as a consequence of a brutal, unjustified attack. And at the same time, we talk about the power of fair play and disagreement with breaking the rules.

This is why the ‘Marathon of Solidarity’ project was created. The President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, has assumed honorary patronage of the exhibition so entitled. We invite you to become acquainted with a collection of testimonies of Polish-Ukrainian brotherhood. We create this story together.

 

Ukraine can count on the help of Poles

Stories of athletes who found refuge in Poland. Stories of those who have shown support for Ukrainians

CALL FOR DECISIVE ACTION CALL FOR DECISIVE ACTION

We appeal to the sports world to show full solidarity with Ukraine

CALL FOR DECISIVE ACTION

Kamil Bortniczuk launched a diplomatic offensive, addressing sports ministers from the whole European Union.

EXCLUSION OF THE AGGRESSOR AND COOPERATION WITH UKRAINE EXCLUSION OF THE AGGRESSOR AND COOPERATION WITH UKRAINE

EU ministers: let's eliminate Russia from global competition

EXCLUSION OF THE AGGRESSOR AND COOPERATION WITH UKRAINE

Pressure from Poland and the Czech Republic, among others, contributed to FIFA and UEFA's decision to disqualify Russia. Pressure makes sense!

SUPPORT FROM POLISH SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS SUPPORT FROM POLISH SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS

Extensive support has come from many groups

SUPPORT FROM POLISH SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS

As the Polish Wrestling Association, we acted immediately after the outbreak of war.

WE STOOD SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WE STOOD SHOULDER TO SHOULDER

Poland welcomed Ukrainian athletes

WE STOOD SHOULDER TO SHOULDER

We organized, for example: Men's Volleyball World Championship and Women's Épée World Cup.

I CAN COUNT ON HELP FROM MY POLISH COLLEAGUES AND COACH I CAN COUNT ON HELP FROM MY POLISH COLLEAGUES AND COACH

I went down to the shelter. I sat in it for five hours

I CAN COUNT ON HELP FROM MY POLISH COLLEAGUES AND COACH

In Poland, I enrolled in a sports high school and artistic gymnastics classes at the Youth Palace.

FRIENDS FOR UKRAINE FRIENDS FOR UKRAINE

Iga Świątek and Agnieszka Radwańska join in

FRIENDS FOR UKRAINE

During a charity tournament with the participation of outstanding tennis players, approximately PLN 2.5 million was collected.

THIS IS A GREAT ACT OF SOLIDARITY WITH MY COMPATRIOTS THIS IS A GREAT ACT OF SOLIDARITY WITH MY COMPATRIOTS

The conflict with Russia was growing. The war engulfed across the whole country

THIS IS A GREAT ACT OF SOLIDARITY WITH MY COMPATRIOTS

Clubs in Poland have provided Ukrainian athletes with everything they need.

MATCH FOR PEACE MATCH FOR PEACE

Chanting ‘Ukraine! Ukraine!’ – a touching gesture

MATCH FOR PEACE

Dynamo Kyiv defeated Legia Warsaw by 3 goals to 1 at the Łazienkowska Stadium.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK POLES FOR THEIR HUMANITY I WOULD LIKE TO THANK POLES FOR THEIR HUMANITY

I said goodbye to my daughter: ‘Bye-bye, give your mum a kiss goodbye!’

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK POLES FOR THEIR HUMANITY

For three months, the team lived for free in a sports complex in Kraków.

FORGETTING THE WAR THROUGH SPORT FORGETTING THE WAR THROUGH SPORT

Help for the players came from the Kielce club

FORGETTING THE WAR THROUGH SPORT

We do everything to make them feel good, says Korona's sports director, Paweł Golański.

POLISH PEOPLE ARE OUR GREATEST ALLIES POLISH PEOPLE ARE OUR GREATEST ALLIES

I think it will be a long war. We have to win it

POLISH PEOPLE ARE OUR GREATEST ALLIES

We shall remember this for the rest of our lives,” says Danilo Mocherniuk, a weightlifter.

I AM LIKE A LITTLE SISTER AMONG THE POLISH ATHLETES I AM LIKE A LITTLE SISTER AMONG THE POLISH ATHLETES

I had one night to make a decision and pack my belongings

I AM LIKE A LITTLE SISTER AMONG THE POLISH ATHLETES

I feel very grateful to the Polish girls because they helped me with everything and supported me all the way through.

VOLLEYBALL UNITES NATIONS VOLLEYBALL UNITES NATIONS

The Barkom-Kazhany club was looking for a place to play

VOLLEYBALL UNITES NATIONS

Thanks to the “Volleyball Unites Nations” programme, the team has joined PlusLiga for the 2022/2023 season.

EVEN WHEN ROCKETS ARE FLYING OVER THEIR HEADS, PEOPLE DON’T LOSE HEART EVEN WHEN ROCKETS ARE FLYING OVER THEIR HEADS, PEOPLE DON’T LOSE HEART

They are cheering each other up, they don't say: ‘We're done for'

EVEN WHEN ROCKETS ARE FLYING OVER THEIR HEADS, PEOPLE DON’T LOSE HEART

We have received a great deal of help, which is a sign of unprecedented solidarity. We are grateful for this.

FAIR PLAY SPIRIT AND HOSPITALITY FAIR PLAY SPIRIT AND HOSPITALITY

The Galychanka Lviv women's team asked for help

FAIR PLAY SPIRIT AND HOSPITALITY

The players from Lviv play their matches at the Education and Recreation Centre in Marki.

WE HAVE SHOWN BROTHERHOOD. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HELP WE HAVE SHOWN BROTHERHOOD. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HELP

We want Ukrainians to feel united with Poles

WE HAVE SHOWN BROTHERHOOD. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HELP

Sport is an excellent tool to bring nations and generations together. It builds unity.

EXCLUDING THE RUSSIANS FROM THE OLYMPIC GAMES IS IN OUR NATIONAL INTEREST EXCLUDING THE RUSSIANS FROM THE OLYMPIC GAMES IS IN OUR NATIONAL INTEREST

The Polish Olympic Committee helps Ukrainians

EXCLUDING THE RUSSIANS FROM THE OLYMPIC GAMES IS IN OUR NATIONAL INTEREST

“We are going to continue to express solidarity and condemn the war,” says Andrzej Kraśnicki, president of the Polish Olympic Committee.

ENOUGH WITH THE INFLUENCE OF THE TERRORIST STATE ENOUGH WITH THE INFLUENCE OF THE TERRORIST STATE

War and Olympic values are contradictions

ENOUGH WITH THE INFLUENCE OF THE TERRORIST STATE

“Russia must stop aggression and terror,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on the internet.

CHAMPIONS: THERE IS NO PLACE FOR RUSSIANS IN MAJOR EVENTS CHAMPIONS: THERE IS NO PLACE FOR RUSSIANS IN MAJOR EVENTS

I can't believe that such a decision is possible

CHAMPIONS: THERE IS NO PLACE FOR RUSSIANS IN MAJOR EVENTS

A two-time Olympian from Ukraine was shot. How can you think about competing in such situations?

THANK YOU, POLAND. WE WILL NEVER FORGET! THANK YOU, POLAND. WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

Ukrainians remember the help they have received from Poles

THANK YOU, POLAND. WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

“You welcomed us with open hearts,” Shakhtar Donetsk players say.

SPORT KNOWS NO LIMITS SPORT KNOWS NO LIMITS

Everyone joined the action

SPORT KNOWS NO LIMITS

“Without any hesitation, we got on a bus and went to the border to offer help,” says Marcin Kotowoda, secretary of AZS Lublin.

WE PROVIDED UKRAINIAN SWIMMERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN WE PROVIDED UKRAINIAN SWIMMERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN

We bring help. That's how we were raised

WE PROVIDED UKRAINIAN SWIMMERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN

“In the sports venues, they wanted to show that their homeland is fighting and is never going to give up,” says Sławomir Pliszka, president of KS Olimpia Lublin.

SPORT IS BASED ON VALUES SUCH AS SOLIDARITY AND EMPATHY SPORT IS BASED ON VALUES SUCH AS SOLIDARITY AND EMPATHY

A real thread of friendship has been established between us

SPORT IS BASED ON VALUES SUCH AS SOLIDARITY AND EMPATHY

“What we observed after 24 February 2022 cannot be called anything other than a great civic effort,” says Maria Curie-Skłodowska University Professor dr Tomasz Bielecki.

PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE JOIN US PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE JOIN US

We have started an aid relay

PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE JOIN US

“Our support reaches soldiers, hospitals, civilians, children and animals,” says Igor Tracz, a legend of dog sled racing.

I HELPED A UKRAINIAN FRIEND. I COULDN'T ACT DIFFERENTLY I HELPED A UKRAINIAN FRIEND. I COULDN'T ACT DIFFERENTLY

War was rampant all around, rockets were flying overhead

I HELPED A UKRAINIAN FRIEND. I COULDN'T ACT DIFFERENTLY

“I'm sure the athletes from Ukraine would do the same for us,” says Michalina Diakow, an international football referee.

IT WAS NATURAL FOR US – THE INHABITANTS AND THE AUTHORITIES – TO BE OPEN AND TO HELP IT WAS NATURAL FOR US – THE INHABITANTS AND THE AUTHORITIES – TO BE OPEN AND TO HELP

Solidarity with Ukraine was simply a neighbourly response

IT WAS NATURAL FOR US – THE INHABITANTS AND THE AUTHORITIES – TO BE OPEN AND TO HELP

“Wrocław has a number of facilities that were used in the first crisis weeks,” says Wojciech Koerber of Wrocław Public Relations.

AS A SPORTING COMMUNITY, WE HAVE REPEATEDLY SHOWN THAT WE HAVE OPEN HEARTS AS A SPORTING COMMUNITY, WE HAVE REPEATEDLY SHOWN THAT WE HAVE OPEN HEARTS

We reacted in the first hours of the Russian invasion

AS A SPORTING COMMUNITY, WE HAVE REPEATEDLY SHOWN THAT WE HAVE OPEN HEARTS

“It was important – in the first days to show support for people who were forced by the war to leave their homeland,” says Jędrzej Rybak of WKS Śląsk Wrocław.

THE YOUNG ATHLETES WERE STRONGLY AFFECTED BY THE SITUATION IN THE UKRAINE THE YOUNG ATHLETES WERE STRONGLY AFFECTED BY THE SITUATION IN THE UKRAINE

I'm proud that we helped these kids

THE YOUNG ATHLETES WERE STRONGLY AFFECTED BY THE SITUATION IN THE UKRAINE

“I didn't know how many of them there would be, where we would accommodate them and how we would organise everything – the only important thing was that these children were fleeing the war, so without hesitation I said I could pick them up from the border,” says Dębica mayor Mariusz Szewczyk, who organised the aid for the Ukrainian swimmers.

THEY MANAGED TO GET A BIT OF A BREAK FROM WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE UKRAINE THEY MANAGED TO GET A BIT OF A BREAK FROM WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE UKRAINE

The Ukrainian athletes felt good here

THEY MANAGED TO GET A BIT OF A BREAK FROM WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE UKRAINE

“Sport is not only about competing, but also about openness, brotherhood, passion that brings people together,” says Kacper Fara, coach of UKS Feniks Dębica.

SPORT TEACHES US TO ALWAYS GIVE A HELPING HAND TO A PERSON IN NEED SPORT TEACHES US TO ALWAYS GIVE A HELPING HAND TO A PERSON IN NEED

We felt we had to help as much as we could

SPORT TEACHES US TO ALWAYS GIVE A HELPING HAND TO A PERSON IN NEED

“The news about the war shocked everyone and motivated people to help,” says Magdalena Jeziorowska, individual European champion in épée and coach at AZS AWF Katowice.

IN A SPORTS ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE ARE OPEN TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE IN A SPORTS ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE ARE OPEN TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE

The idea was to stop these children from thinking about the war for a while

IN A SPORTS ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE ARE OPEN TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE

“As far as possible, we tried to provide the Ukrainian hockey players with a sense of normality,” says Katarzyna Zygmunt, a local government activist from Krynica-Zdrój.

AT ONE POINT OUR SCHOOL EVEN BECAME A HUB FOR AID AT ONE POINT OUR SCHOOL EVEN BECAME A HUB FOR AID

People were getting together and organising support

AT ONE POINT OUR SCHOOL EVEN BECAME A HUB FOR AID

“I feel proud of the community of students at our school, because they welcomed the Ukrainian youth extremely warmly,' says Agnieszka Moneta-Bazelak from Primary School No. 5 in Wyszków.

A GROUP OF TEENAGERS FROM KIEV CAME TO US A GROUP OF TEENAGERS FROM KIEV CAME TO US

The rowers wanted to show that Ukraine is not giving up

A GROUP OF TEENAGERS FROM KIEV CAME TO US

“Athletes always show solidarity. I think rowers especially, because it is an elitist discipline,” says Stefan Janeczek, president of KW Gopło Kruszwica.

WE ALL FELT THE NEED TO HELP PEOPLE FLEEING WAR WE ALL FELT THE NEED TO HELP PEOPLE FLEEING WAR

We wanted to express our solidarity

WE ALL FELT THE NEED TO HELP PEOPLE FLEEING WAR

“We tried to constantly meet the needs and act in such a way as to make us feel that we were up to the task,” says Kamil Świrydowicz, press spokesman for Jagiellonia Białystok.

POLES PROVIDED SHELTER AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES POLES PROVIDED SHELTER AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Ukrainian players had to flee without taking anything with them

POLES PROVIDED SHELTER AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

“Willingness to help selflessly, solidarity, open hearts – this is what we showed in the face of the terrorist invasion of Ukraine,” says dr hab. Rafał Tataruch, president of the Polish Speed Skating Association.

I DID MY BEST TO GIVE THEM A PLACE TO STAY I DID MY BEST TO GIVE THEM A PLACE TO STAY

For several days, the athletes hid in shelters

I DID MY BEST TO GIVE THEM A PLACE TO STAY

“We have had very good contact with Ukrainian athletes and trainers for a long time, and it was one of the coaches from Lviv who asked me for help when Russian troops invaded Ukraine,” says Tadeusz Kaplita, president of the Podkarpackie Regional Sports Acrobatics Association in Rzeszów.

ATHLETES FROM THE UKRAINE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE WITH US FOR THE PARALYMPICS IN BRAZIL ATHLETES FROM THE UKRAINE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE WITH US FOR THE PARALYMPICS IN BRAZIL

We knew immediately that we wanted to help

ATHLETES FROM THE UKRAINE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE WITH US FOR THE PARALYMPICS IN BRAZIL

“Physical activity was also a form of therapy for them and a break from what was happening in their homeland, what they left behind on the other side of the border. They could express their emotions through sport,” says Father Marcin Jarzenkowski, parish priest of St Luke the Evangelist and St Florian the Martyr in Łódź, formerly bursar at the Łódź seminary.