End of the Milan Games: Polish Athletes Return to Warsaw

The end of the Olympic competition in Italy has become an opportunity to assess Polish winter sports. Although critical voices have appeared in the media, including from Zbigniew Bońek, official government and expert positions emphasize the solid preparation and progress of Polish athletes. A major sensation was the return to the country of Ivan Semirunnij, whose declarations of attachment to Poland caused fury on the Russian side. The athlete, hosted by Polish authorities, announced his desire to continue his career in the white and red colors. Simultaneously, the media succeeded – the public broadcaster and the Warner Bros. Discovery group recorded record viewership broadcast, confirming the unwavering interest of Poles in winter sports. The tradition of heads of state hosting Olympians dates back to ancient Greece, where victors of the games entered cities through breaches in the defensive walls, symbolizing that a city possessing such citizens needed no other fortifications. In modern Poland, the tradition of welcoming national heroes at the airport has become a permanent element of celebrating sporting successes. However, the geopolitical situation mars the atmosphere of joy. The International Paralympic Committee upheld the controversial decision to restore full rights to the representations of Russia and Belarus. Unlike in previous years, these athletes will compete under their own flags and with national anthems, which has met with categorical opposition from Kyiv and Warsaw. The Polish Paralympic Committee announced close consultations with Ukraine regarding a potential boycott of the opening ceremony, emphasizing that sport cannot take place in isolation from armed aggression. Meanwhile, a proposal to organize future games in Poland is emerging in public debate, declared by politicians of various persuasions. In the final standings, the undisputed hero was Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who single-handedly won more gold medals than the entire Polish team. This juxtaposition prompts discussion about the systemic funding of winter sports, even though the Polish Ministry of Sport rates the results as an "Italian miracle." Upon returning to Warsaw, the athletes will undergo detailed evaluation, and the best can count on high financial rewards, which in the Polish incentive system are among the highest in Europe. „Polski schabowy to coś, na co czekałem przez cały okres startów. Cieszę się, że jestem w domu.” (Polish pork chop is something I've been waiting for throughout the entire competition period. I'm happy to be home.) — Ivan Semirunnij „Polski sport zimowy ma się dobrze, a wyniki oglądalności pokazują, że kibice doceniają wysiłek naszych reprezentantów.” (Polish winter sport is doing well, and the viewership results show that fans appreciate the effort of our representatives.) — Marian Kmita