Poland has been waiting for an indoor ice arena for many years. In other countries it was standard, but in Poland something unattainable. Our skaters received luxury at the end of 2017.
Rise Ice Arena in Tomaszów Mazowiecki It was supposed to allow Polish speed skating to develop even more. And it probably contributes to this, although in the environment of this discipline, the situation in which there is no ice in the hall in October and November is incomprehensible, because this will be the case this year.
Ice Arena without ice. Natalia Czerwonka: my heart breaks
“Heart Breaks” – this is how she started her post on Facebook Natalia Czerwonkasilver medalist from Sochi.
Not so long ago I remember how we entered the Arena Lodowa in Tomaszów Mazowiecki with disbelief, happy that after so many years we finally had a facility comparable to Olympic medalists. 6 years have passed and we have an ice-free facility. A facility we cannot afford. And I’m not going to invent here who’s fault it is and whose side the “error” is. For many years, I treated the Arena as my second home. It’s a pity it was for such a short time. And it’s even more of a shame to do the work that a group of coaches in Poland do to promote speed skating, to encourage children to take part in it… so that parents can see that it’s hard to find conditions to practice this sport in Poland!
~ we read on.
The president of Tomaszów Mazowiecki counters. “We are the largest sponsor of the skating team”
He also spoke about the Ice Arena in Tomaszów Mazowiecki on social media Marcin Witko, mayor of the city.
“Since this morning, many people have been asking me for a comment on Tomaszów Maz.’s financing of the national speed skating team. About not freezing the ice in the Arena in October. I don’t know why the local government of Tomaszów should bear the costs of training the staff. This is not the local government’s own task. Our task is to take care of the residents of Tomaszów. Therefore, with them in mind we will launch free slides and we can add funds for this, I can convince councilors to do so. But why should the residents of Tomaszów bear the costs of staff training?” Witko asked in his post on Facebook.
“When we built the facility, a megawatt cost PLN 180. Now it costs PLN 1,200. It’s probably obvious that during the crisis we need to save money. It will get better, we will freeze longer. Of course, it’s easy for someone to say that they are not interested in the costs of maintaining the ice, they want train. However, for the sake of the residents, we must remember this. The same people who are now attacking us for not contributing to the training of the staff, regularly attack us for contributing to the maintenance of this facility… It is difficult to meet their expectations. expectations. No matter what we do… it will always be bad“- we read further.
Currently, I have the impression that I am expected to have Tomaszów Mazowiecki sponsor the national speed skating team, and that is basically what it is. If we add up our expenses, it may turn out that we are the largest sponsor of the skating team. Despite this, it is difficult to find our coat of arms or the logo of our city on their clothes. I guess the coaches who are attacking us so fiercely today have forgotten that money is where there is success – then it is easier to find strategic sponsors – also for the facility. But for now, these coaching successes are not visible. I keep my fingers crossed for the players
~ concluded the mayor of the city, sticking a pin in the coach of the Polish speed skating team.
There were many comments under this post. Czerwonka also entered into a polemic with the city’s mayor, writing: “Now the president has rocked out. 5 clubs in Tomaszów Mazowiecki are waiting for ice, children from all over Poland. Not only the staff. And you forget about the promotion of the city of Tomaszów and how skating promoted it. What can I say, my heart hurts – typical Polish reality.
To which Witko replied: “Ms. Natalia, I really understand everything. There is a crisis (I think we all know it) and I have to cut costs in all areas. Not only this one. Children with TM will have ice. Also in the form of free slides. Let local governments from other cities take care of children from other cities. As the mayor of the city, I have to think about all residents and children participating in various sports disciplines. And so I often hear comments that I favor skaters. Let me remind you that in our city, apart from speed skating, the strategic disciplines are football and volleyball with a 100-year tradition. During the crisis, we must bear its consequences together. At least I think that’s how it should be. Regards”.
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