At the end of last week, Sports and Tourism Minister Sławomir Nitras unveiled a new national initiative, the "Sports Development Strategy: Warsaw 2040," which aims to position Poland as a strong contender for hosting the global sporting event.
“Our goal is to be ready by early 2026, so the Polish government can say: yes, we are prepared to begin negotiations to formally submit a bid for the 2040 Olympic Games,” Nitras told a gathering at the Prime Minister's Office in Warsaw.
The event was attended by a crowd of more than 200 sports officials, Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and members of the business community.
Nitras said the plan goes beyond organizing the Olympic Games, describing it as a broader strategy to transform Polish sports over the next two decades.
He argued that although Poland spends nearly 1 percent of its public budget on sports, the money has not been used effectively.
He said the plan includes overhauling sports funding and increasing investment in infrastructure, coaching and grassroots development.
“One of the key pillars of this strategy is a four-year funding model for sports associations, which will ensure sustained support," Nitras announced.
He added that his Ministry of Sport and Tourism plans to invest at least PLN 100 billion (around 24 billion USD) "in the development of Polish sport" and hire over 1,500 new coaches by 2040.
Sławomir Nitras. Photo: Polish Radio/PR1
Despite the costs, Poland has the financial capacity to host the Olympics, Nitras declared, drawing parallels with the country’s success in hosting large-scale events such as the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 2012).
Nitras highlighted that Poland's journey toward the Olympic bid started in September 2023, when President Andrzej Duda said at an international conference in the southern resort of Zakopane that the country would explore hosting the 2036 or 2040 Olympics.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in August this year that Poland would bid to host the summer Olympics for the first time, aiming for the Games in 2040 or 2044.
The 2040 Games, if awarded to Poland, would be held across multiple cities, with Warsaw serving as the main venue, according to Nitras.
He underscored the need to improve the country's sports infrastructure, noting that the private sector would play a significant role in financing the project, state news agency PAP reported.
Robert Korzeniowski, a four-time Olympic champion and adviser to Nitras, opened Friday’s meeting by emphasizing the importance of a national strategy to support the Olympic bid.
He expressed confidence that the sports community would play a vital role in bringing the plan to fruition.
“Although we face challenges, the rewards of this work will last for decades, benefiting both Polish athletes and the overall health and well-being of our society,” Korzeniowski said.
Robert Korzeniowski with wife Justyna. Photo: Polish Radio/Cezary Piwowarski
Polish tennis player Magda Linette, who also spoke at the event, acknowledged that organizing the Olympics would be a significant challenge but emphasized that “with the right determination, anything is possible.”
Magda Linette. Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański
Nitras asserted that hosting the Olympics is not just about sport, but also about modernizing Poland.
“The Olympics can be a catalyst for a leap in civilizational progress—affecting everything from transportation to environmental protection,” he said.
He pointed to "the legacy of Euro 2012," which saw Poland build new roads, airports and other infrastructure that continues to benefit the country.
While Poland has previously attempted to host the winter Olympics in Zakopane, losing the bid to Turin in 2006, this new plan represents a fresh opportunity for the nation to bring the world’s most prestigious sporting event to its shores.
The next Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles in 2028, followed by Brisbane in 2032.
Poland’s first possible bid for the summer Games could target either 2036 or 2040, depending on the outcome of negotiations with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Nitras concluded his presentation by calling on the nation to unite behind the project.
“This is not just the government’s task; it is a collective effort," he said. "We must come together to determine what do we need to succeed in every aspect" of the plan.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, gov.pl