Head of the Polish Olympic Committee, Andrzej Krasnicki, at Saturday's line-up announcement. Warsaw, 07.07.2012 Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka
The Polish Olympic Committee (PKOl) announced the national squad, Saturday, marking twenty days before the beginning of the games in the UK.
However, the number of sports-men and -women may change.
“I would like to underline that the squad is announced on the basis of the sporting unions’ decisions, which we respect,” PKOl Chairman Andrzej Krasnicki said.
“These forthcoming games are a great logistical challenge,” he added.
It is expected that a further six track-and-field athletes may join the squad following an athletics meet in Bialogard, Sunday, PKOl Secretary General Adam Krzesinski told the PAP news agency.
Undersecretary of State at the Sports Ministry, Jacek Foks told journalists that Olympic preparations accounted for three-quarters of the ministry’s budget, a sum of 160 million zloty (40 million euro).
Four years ago Poland sent 263 athletes to Beijing, while the largest Polish contingent was present in Moscow for the 1980 Olympics, where 306 representatives took part.
Prize money
The board of the Polish Olympic Committee also announced the prize money for athletes who return from London with a medal.
For every gold medal won, the athlete can expect a prize of 120,000 zloty (30,000 euro), while winners of silver and bronze medals can expect to come away with 80,000 and 50,000 zloty respectively.
For team sports, every member of the team will be paid out 75 percent of the sums allocated.
The Olympics in London are to take place between 27 July and 12 August. (jb)