(ATR) A potential bid from Krakow for the 2022 Olympics would highlight the unifying power of the Tatra Mountains between Poland and Slovakia, Around the Rings has learned.
Over the weekend, representatives from the Polish and Slovak Olympic Committees, presidents, parliaments and relevant municipal authorities met in Krakow’s city hall to discuss a bid.
Talks were described as "very preliminary" by a Polish Olympic Committee spokesperson, but some details were agreed upon in principle for a "letter of intent" to bid.
Ceremonies, figure skating, speedskating and sliding sports would take place in Krakow and surrounding areas; ice hockey in Krakow and Zakopane as well as Slovakia; biathlon, Nordic skiing and snowboarding in Zakopane; as well as alpine and freestyle skiing in Slovakia.
The theme of the bid would be: "The Tatra Mountains are not a border between Poland and Slovakia. The Tatras may join and connect our nations, our youth."
Staging the Games would cost $2 billion, according to the Polish Olympic Committee.
A review of the meeting sent to ATR says the initiative "has strong support from the local and regional authorities as well as from both National Olympic Committees."
Jagna Marczulajtis-Walczak, a three-time Olympian in snowboarding who is now a member of the Polish parliament, and Szymon Krasicki, professor at Krakow’s Academy of Physical Education, are the two leaders of the project.
"The choice of Krakow as the organizer is not accidental," said Mayor Jacek Majchrowski. "Such an event should be organized by a large and well-known city, and the world's most recognizable Polish city afterWarsaw is Krakow.
"Of course, the idea of declaration of Krakow as the organizer of the Winter Olympic Games would not be possible if it were not for government support at all levels in the Malopolska Region, the Council of the City of Krakow and parliamentarians, as well as representatives of the Olympic committees, and of course our partners from Slovakia."
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will now receive a letter outlining the initial plans and desire to bid.
Zakopane bid for the 2006 Olympics.
An interesting aside – the Tatra Mountains are part of the Carpathian mountain range, where Ukraine’s 2022 bid city Lviv is also located.
Christian Donze, French Swimming Guru, 51
Christian Donze, national director of France's most successful Olympic swimming team, died Sunday. He was 51.
Donze created the strategy that led to seven French medals in the pool at the London Olympics, with four golds, for France’s best aquatics showing.
He was taking part in a mountain bike event when he suffered a heart attack.
"It is with profound sadness that I heard about Christian's death," Olympic champion swimmer Yannick Angel was quoted as saying in an Associated Press report.
"He was a great and kind man. He died as he lived, with a love of sport. Thank you for everything you did and what you built. Rest in peace."
Tanzania Olympic Committee Elections
Elections for president and secretary general of the Tanzania Olympic Committee are scheduled for Dec. 8.
Nomination forms will be distributed Oct. 25 with nominations due by Nov. 15.
Gulam Rashid is the incumbent president.
Written by Ed Hula III.
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