Paulina Malinowska-Kowalczyk
Advisor to the President of the Republic of Poland

First of all, thank you very much for the invitation to the conference. I feel very privileged and happy to be able to share my experience of working in favor of sports for people with disabilities with so many experts from around the world.
Sports for people with disabilities in Poland has a long history in terms of its creation and development, but it has only recently begun to function prominently in the public consciousness.
One key aspect for its recognition, not only in the context of rehabilitation but also in terms of the successes of Polish athletes on the international stage, is for influential people and decision-makers to acknowledge these achievements.
Such recognition for sports for people with disabilities in Poland was fostered by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, and his wife, Mrs. Agata Kornhauser-Duda.
In my speech, I will present several consistent actions that have contributed to this recognition, and I will endeavor to show that a conscious, planned policy in this area yields many fruits.
First, let me provide a brief introduction about myself.
Since 2019, I have served as Advisor to the President of the Republic of Poland on disability issues. Prior to this appointment, I worked as the General Secretary and spokeswoman of the Polish Paralympic Committee for over five years (2017-2023) and as a journalist at Polish Television TVP S.A. for more than 15 years (2002-2017).
During my career, I hosted various TV programs dedicated to sports for people with disabilities or social issues, reported, commented, served as a press attaché, and covered nine Paralympic Games from 2004 to 2022. I attended Games in Athens, Vancouver, Sochi, Rio de Janeiro, Pyeongchang, Tokyo, and Beijing, which means that for over the last twenty years, I have been actively involved in promoting and discussing sports for people with disabilities.
Why is sports participation so crucial? When you consider that 15% of the global population has disabilities, and there is no better means of rehabilitation than through sports, one cannot remain indifferent.
Perhaps some of you are familiar with the symbol of the campaign #WeThe15 initiated by the International Paralymic Commiitee in 2021. In Poland, the numbers are more or less the same.
That's why, with the full support of Andrzej Duda, when I became the Advisor to the President of Poland, sports for people with disabilities became one of the crucial areas of my work at the Chancellery.
Primarily, I focused on three main branches of sports for people with disabilities: the Paralympic movement, sports for the deaf, and sports for people with intellectual disabilities, although the latter was mostly within the purview of the First Lady's activities.
A significant factor in the growth of the Paralympic movement was the organization of Paralympic Nominations ceremonies for the last three consecutive Paralympic Games held in Pyeongchang 2018, Tokyo 2020 (2021), and Beijing 2022 at the Presidential Palace or Palace Belweder.
What garnered media and public attention was the presentation of nominations to athletes, coaches, and activists by the President and the First Lady.
Equally important were the congratulations posted on Twitter (current X Platform) to all medalists during the games. Imagine brief posts made by the President of the Republic of Poland every day, once or twice a day. In Pyeongchang, Poland won 1 medal, but in Tokyo, they won 24 medals (7 gold/6 silver/11 bronze). And it truly made an impact, as the President's profile is one of the most observed in our country. Also noteworthy were the presidential awards for medalists, coaches, and activists after the Games, signifying the President's appreciation for Paralympic heroes.
However, what was particularly unique in recent years was the recognition of sports for the deaf. Despite its long history in Poland, it had not received adequate recognition.
The first meeting with the President and the First Lady took place in October 2021. It marked the first time in history when deaf athletes, coaches, and activists were invited to the Presidential Palace and honored.
The ceremony was particularly moving, as each award was presented by the President of the Republic of Poland accompanied by a sign language interpreter.
In the following year, 2022, the President and the First Lady met with representatives of sports for the deaf on the occasion of the centenary of deaf sports in Poland. We also meet every year during the celebration of the International Day of People with Disabilities, celebrated every 3rd of December - this type of meeting has already become a tradition in the Chancellery.
Let me draw your attention to a quote from the President during the inaugural meeting. In a few sentences, he emphasized the importance of three sports movements: Paralympic, Deaflympic, and Special Olympics.
"I am very pleased that sports for people with disabilities in our country are developing excellently. Recently, we met with Paralympic athletes here. My wife is very involved in the Special Olympics movement. I am glad that we can also meet before this important event for you, which will be the centenary of your organization next year, but also before the Deaflympics in Brazil, which we all hope will take place next year."
Now, let's discuss Special Olympics and sports for people with intellectual disabilities. The First Lady has been the patron of Special Olympics Poland since 2015 and frequently meets with young athletes and those involved in the association. It is worth mentioning that the First Lady accompanied Polish athletes in the parade on the Olympic Stadium floor during the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin 2023.
The First Lady often participates in meetings with athletes with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, it's worth noting the President's participation in the 24-hour Slalom Marathon held annually in Zakopane. As many in Poland know, our President is an avid skier, and since 2016, he has participated in the charity marathon organized by the Handicap Zakopane Foundation - I Love Ski. The President is the top skier in the marathon.
Last but not least, I would like to mention the Presidential engagement in the promotion of Amputee Football in our country.
Not only he has met Amputee Football players several times, but he also attended to cheer on our representatives during the semi-final match between Poland and Spain during the European Championships in Cracow in 2021.
He also praises the successes of Amputee Football players - last year, he awarded Marcin Oleksy, who won the FIFA Puskas Award.
What are the results of this special attention from the President of the Republic of Poland towards sports for people with disabilities?
Most importantly, there is recognition of sports for people with disabilities by the most important person in the country.
Secondly, there has been a significant contribution to the promotion of sports for people with disabilities.
Additionally, athletes, coaches, and activists are being recognized and appreciated.
Furthermore, sports for people with disabilities have gained attention from the media and the public.
The actions undertaken have integrated sports for people with disabilities into the mainstream agenda.
The message that is being spread worldwide is: sports are for everyone.

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