Investing in programmes for expanding and modernising sports infrastructure, supporting the sports training process and the development of athletes from Lower Silesia, and raising regional disciplines to a higher level are among the priorities of the Self-Government of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Thanks to sports scholarships, grants and competitions, it is possible to provide real assistance to specific athletes, clubs and other organisations wishing to operate in this field.
"Sport is one of the few areas of life that brings people together so effectively. Its development also means new jobs, a healthier society and fantastic promotion for the region – Wojciech Bochnak, Deputy Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship."
- Lower Silesia is a region with great sporting traditions, and we are justified in aspiring to become a nationwide sports leader. We regularly cooperate with clubs and support sports training for regional teams in more than 60 disciplines. We observe the development of our young people, as well as the problems accompanying this process. Most often, these include insufficiently professional training conditions, a lack of suitable infrastructure and, unfortunately, serious injuries. We have launched wide-ranging measures in all these areas – says Wojciech Bochnak, Deputy Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.
In recent months, the Management Board of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship has announced open competitions for improving sports facilities. The total amount of support has so far reached PLN 2.2 million. These funds went to local sports clubs, associations and non-governmental organisations involved in the sports development of children and young people. The money financed renovations and modernisations of indoor swimming pools, renovations of sports halls, replacement of surfaces on football pitches, installation of stands and the purchase of professional equipment for sports clubs. In some cases, the situation also required the insulation of training rooms.
Municipal and county local-government units may also apply for grants under the Sports Facilities Development Fund. These are usually multi-million-zloty, typically infrastructure-related investments. The call for applications opened as early as 2023. Some projects have already been completed, while others are still under way. The Voivodeship Self-Government also supports individual municipalities in ambitious projects such as the reconstruction of the athletics stadium in Lubin, the modernisation of the ice rink in Świdnica and the modernisation of the sports stadium in Wałbrzych. In total, 47 municipalities and counties received various grants amounting to more than PLN 66.1 million. The investments also include the construction of 28 Lower Silesian Cycling Skills Parks. Our voivodeship will allocate more than PLN 6.1 million for them.
Infrastructure development is not everything, however. In August, the first innovative studies in Poland of athletes from Lower Silesia struggling with injuries began. Health problems often become an obstacle on the road to sporting success, and are quite frequently also the reason for abandoning the sport practised, or even any physical activity. The studies will cover more than 400 athletes, and will be conducted by an outstanding specialist, Prof. Andrzej Czamara of the Higher School of Physiotherapy in Wrocław. The project is worth half a million zlotys.