ON THE LAST SATURDAY, THE FIRST MEETING OF THE TEAM IMPLEMENTING THE ATHLETICS 4 HEALTH PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDES FIVE NATIONAL ATHLETICS ASSOCIATIONS, HAS BEEN TAKEN IN WARSAW.
The Athletics 4 Health project is implemented as part of a partnership cooperation between athletics associations from five countries: Poland, Austria, Finland, Bulgaria and Slovakia. Coordinator of the project is Polish Athletics Association, which was its initiator. The task is to be implemented in the period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023. The first part of the project involves a thorough examination of human resources and sports infrastructure in both primary schools and clubs. During the meeting, the current research results and preliminary conclusions were presented. On their basis, the research team of the project led by professor dr hab. Janusz Iskra will prepare a report that will guide the next stage of research – needs analysis, the purpose of which will be to examine the problems related to practicing athletics and to obtain the most accurate knowledge about the current needs of parents, children and sports clubs.

Mr. Jean Gracia was the special guest of the Warsaw meeting. The Vice President of European Athletics was impressed by the implemented project, which is part of the current activities carried out by the Development Department of the European Athletics Federation, and thus expressed the desire to establish closer cooperation with PZLA in order to maximize the effects of the Athletics 4 Health Project and extend its impact on other European countries.

The representatives of the federation participating in the project also visited Warsaw. Austria was represented by the Secretary General of OLV Helmut Baudis and Bernhard Rauch; Finland Pii Jantii, Specialist in programs for children and youth; Slovakia Anna Kirnova, Director of international affairs, member of the EA Council. Poland was represented by Paweł Jesień, Project leader and EU projects coordinator, prof. dr hab. Janusz Iskra, researcher and Dominik Witczak, specialist in programs for children and youth. The guests were welcomed by the vice-president of PZLA Tomasz Majewski and the Secretary General, Hubert Trochimowicz.

Another meeting in February in Bulgaria, where the report on the first part of the research will be presented.

Paweł Jesien, Maciej Jałoszyński