The Young Athletes Symposium „Find the sport of your life” was held in Zabrze
– One of Zabrze’s advantages is certainly sport, which makes a significant contribution to the development of our region. In addition to the icons of football, athletics and boxing recognized in the country, Europe and the world, Zabrze boasts the activities of several dozen clubs, associations and sports organizations, headed by the legendary football club „Górnik Zabrze”, which was the only finalist of the European Football Competition in Poland. The material dimension of support for sports includes several dozen facilities that have been put into use in Zabrze over the last dozen or so years – with these words Małgorzata Mańka-Szulik, the Mayor of Zabrze opened today’s Young Athletes Symposium „Find the sport of your life”.
The event was held at the Zabrze Aquarius Recreation Complex, as part of the „City as Space for Development” project financed by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 and the State Budget. The special guest of the symposium was Sebastian Kawa – multiple champion and world record holder in gliding competitions. The symposium was hosted by the famous TV presenter Tomasz Zubilewicz.
Among the speakers there were: Prof. Marek Gzik, PhD, DSc – founder and Director of EHTIC, the European HealthTech Innovation Center, Silesian University of Technology; Adam Matysek – President of the Management Board of Górnik Zabrze S.A., former goalkeeper of Ekstraklasa and Bundesliga clubs, 34-time player of the Polish National Team; Katarzyna-Weber Radzimska, Adam Radzimski – parents of Antek Radzimski, 11-year-old chess player with national and international achievements; Grzegorz “Gabor” Jędrzejewski – goalkeeper of the Representation of Polish Artists, the Representation of Journalists, co-host of the TurboKozak program; Dariusz Mogielnicki – former player of Górnik Zabrze Handball Club, currently President of SPR Górnik Zabrze Club; Dawid Zimkowski – Medallist of the World Transplant Games held in Australia from 14th to 22nd April 2023; Agnieszka Koszałka-Silska, Ph.D. – doctor of medical and health sciences in the discipline of physical culture sciences, employed at the Poznań University of Physical Education, certified outdoor education trainer and Marzena Jarząbek – physical education teacher at a special school, physiotherapist, oligophrenopedagogist.
The symposium started at 9.30 a.m. The first panel focused on the topic: „Life is constant choices? The most important factors contributing to a young person’s sports success.” The second panel entitled „Do we have to give up on ourselves in pursuit of sports success? Experience and striving to achieve the goal.” started at 12.30 p.m.
The accompanying event was free Outdoor Education Workshop, led by Agnieszka Koszałka-Silska, doctor of medical and health sciences in the discipline of physical culture sciences, certified outdoor education trainer, employee at the Poznań University of Physical Education.
The basis of the workshop was the concept of „Outdoor Education”, a method that aims at the mental, physical and social development of children and adolescents through physical activity outdoors. Participants of classes conducted using this method are faced with „challenges” that require physical activity as well as cooperation, communication and building a common strategy. Tasks can only be completed if participants cooperate with each other.
