The concluded Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo brought Poland historic successes, including three medals for 19-year-old Kacper Tomasiak. However, a deep crisis in the Polish Olympic Committee casts a shadow over the celebrations. President Radosław Piesiewicz admits that the payment of promised bonuses is in question after the departure of key sponsors. Sports Minister Jakub Rutnicki declares the government will take over the payments while sharply criticizing the PKOl board for leading the institution into financial paralysis.

Bonuses for medalists at risk

The PKOl president admits that after losing sponsors, funding for bonuses for Polish Olympians has been thrown into serious doubt.

Tomasiak a multi-medalist at the Games

The 19-year-old ski jumper won individual silver and bronze, plus silver in the team event, becoming the revelation of the Winter Games.

Boycott of the Paralympics in Italy

Poland and several other countries will boycott the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in protest against allowing Russians to compete under their own flag.

Dispute over the track in Karpacz

Zbigniew Boniek criticizes the government subsidy for building a luge track, calling luge a niche sport.

The atmosphere after the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games is extremely polarized. On one hand, Poland celebrates the birth of a new ski jumping star, Kacper Tomasiak, who won three medals, and on the other, it grapples with an unprecedented image and financial crisis of the national Olympic committee. The president of the PKOl, Radosław Piesiewicz, officially confirmed that after the withdrawal of strategic sponsors, including state-owned companies, the budget for athlete bonuses has been drastically reduced. The situation is so serious that the medalists' gala has been postponed to the end of March, allegedly due to the competition schedule, although media speculate about a lack of funds for the promised apartments and cash bonuses. Minister of Sport and Tourism, Jakub Rutnicki, has entered the dispute, assuring that the Tusk government will guarantee payments for the athletes. According to the ministry's assurances, Kacper Tomasiak is to receive over 500,000 zloty for his achievements, and the other medalists amounts exceeding 400,000 zloty. At the same time, Rutnicki does not spare bitter words for Piesiewicz, accusing him of "feeding on the conflict" and leading to the isolation of the PKOl from the government administration and the MKOl. The lack of unity between the government and the committee could effectively dash Poland's chances of hosting future Games, which the Polish side has already officially begun to pursue. The conflict between the Ministry of Sport and the PKOl has been simmering since the end of the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, when the ministry began audits concerning the committee's spending of public funds.In the shadow of political squabbles, Polish athletes continue their season. Władimir Semirunnij, the silver medalist in 10,000-meter speed skating, announced he will donate his trophy to the Ice Arena in Tomaszów Mazowiecki to inspire youth. Meanwhile, in ski jumping, Tomasiak strengthens his lead position, although he will miss the upcoming World Cup events in Bad Mitterndorf due to preparations for the Junior World Championships. The decision to build a luge track in Karpacz for over 7 million zloty also sparked controversy, which Zbigniew Boniek called a waste for a "niche sport." „To są naprawdę poważne kwoty, bo najlepsi medaliści otrzymują ponad 400 tysięcy złotych, a Kacper otrzyma ponad 500 tysięcy złotych.” (These are really serious amounts, because the best medalists receive over 400,000 zloty, and Kacper will receive over 500,000 zloty.) — Jakub Rutnicki

Mentioned People

  • Kacper Tomasiak — 19-year-old Polish ski jumper, triple medalist at the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina.
  • Radosław Piesiewicz — President of the Polish Olympic Committee grappling with a sponsorship crisis.
  • Jakub Rutnicki — Minister of Sport and Tourism, who announced the payment of bonuses for Olympians from the state budget.
  • Władimir Semirunnij — Polish speed skater of Russian origin, Olympic silver medalist in the 10,000 m event.
  • Zbigniew Boniek — Former president of the Polish Football Association, who criticized the construction of a luge track in Karpacz.
  • Ren Nikaido — Japanese ski jumper, Olympic medalist, who is facing logistical problems after returning to his country.