Babiarz was suspended following his controversial remarks during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, where he critiqued John Lennon's song "Imagine," describing its message as "a vision of communism, unfortunately."
The letter, addressed to Tomasz Sygut, the general manager of TVP, was made public on Tuesday.
It was signed by both TVP journalists and well-known athletes including three-time Olympic hammer throw champion Anita Włodarczyk and retired pole vaulter Monika Pyrek, expressing a request from colleagues, viewers and sports enthusiasts that Babiarz be allowed to cover the ongoing Paris Olympics.
"Przemysław Babiarz primarily works for the fans," the letter stated, emphasizing the communal and unifying spirit of the Olympic Games and the importance of respecting differing opinions.
Jakub Kwiatkowski, the director of TVP Sport, responded to the letter on the social media platform X, expressing regret over the situation and revealing his efforts to depoliticize the network amid attacks from right-wing groups and political figures.
Kwiatkowski acknowledged the support from Babiarz's colleagues as legitimate, as long as it "harms no one and offends no one."
"In response to the letter from TVP Sport journalists, I am particularly saddened because I have repeatedly defended Przemek Babiarz in recent months, and yet Przemek has been silent for several days," Kwiatkowski wrote in his post.
He added that Babiarz "has made no gesture towards anyone. He hasn't apologized and has put his colleagues from his department in a very uncomfortable situation."
Kwiatkowski continued: "I came to TVP with the intention of depoliticizing it and that has been my focus. Today, my family and I are relentlessly attacked by right-wing circles and largely by politicians from the Law and Justice (PiS) party, who actively participated in the destruction of Polish Television and were beneficiaries of past arrangements."
In an earlier post, Kwiatkowski argued that sports should remain apolitical.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk took to X on Wednesday to weigh in on the controversy.
"All things considered, it's unclear which was more foolish: Mr. Babiarz's comment or his bosses' decision," he wrote.
"In both cases, Olympic level," he quipped.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Jarosław Kaczyński asserted that Babiarz's suspension is evidence of "the erosion of free speech in Poland."
Ombudsman Marcin Wiącek has requested clarification from TVP’s management about the decision.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP/PAP/PAP
