The 8th edition of the World Winter Games of Polish Communities from Abroad is kicking off in the mountain resort in Zakopane tonight with the participation of Poland's president Lech Kaczynski and the Parliamentary speaker Bronislaw Komorowski.
During the next seven days 700 Polish athletes living in 24 countries around the world will compete in hockey, skating biathlon, ski jumping, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, tobogganing, biathlon, and Nordic walking.
The event, which takes place every two years in various Polish cities, is an opportunity for Poles from abroad not only to compete professionally but also to meet their compatriots from other countries and strengthen ties with Poland.
The first Games of the Polish Communities from Abroad took place in 1934 in Warsaw while their first winter edition was organsied in 1986 in Zakopane. The event, which lasts till March 14, is organized by the Polish Community Association (Wspolnota Polska) and the town of Zakopane. (di)