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Polish president, ex-president back charity ski event

12.01.2026 22:00
Polish President Karol Nawrocki and former President Andrzej Duda have lent their support to an annual charity ski event in the Tatra Mountain resort of Zakopane.
Former Polish President Andrzej Duda hits the slopes in the southern mountain resort of Zakopane on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026.
Former Polish President Andrzej Duda hits the slopes in the southern mountain resort of Zakopane on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026.Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Momot

Duda took part on Sunday in the 12-Hour Slalom Marathon Zakopane, a charity race that combines competition with fundraising for young athletes with disabilities.

The event is organised by former Olympic alpine skier Małgorzata Tlałka-Długosz.

Małgorzata Tlałka-Długosz and Andrzej Duda. Małgorzata Tlałka-Długosz and Andrzej Duda. Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Momot

Participants include professional skiers, coaches and amateurs, as well as children, teenagers and people supported by Tlałka-Długosz's Handicap Zakopane Foundation, according to state news agency PAP.

In a letter to organisers and participants, Nawrocki said the event “combines a passion for skiing with care for fellow human beings” and praised its growing popularity.

Duda, an avid skier, has traditionally taken part in the race each year, including during his two terms as president from 2015 to 2025.

The marathon involves 12 hours of uninterrupted skiing on a slalom course, with participants completing as many runs as possible.

The aim is to raise funds for the Handicap Zakopane Foundation, which runs free sports training for children and adults with disabilities and organises rehabilitation camps and sporting events.

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Source: PAP