Holidays with AZS

BIALA PODLASKA – Polish University Sports Association (AZS) prepared two sport events at the beginning of the Summer holidays, for students who worked hard at their universities during the past academic year.

Since eight years, at the end of June young people from Poland and Ukraine group together to compete in a Polish-Ukrainian Student Volleyball Festival. Every year the Festival goes to another (Polish or Ukrainian) city. This year students contested in Biala Podlaska, in the east ofPoland.

Six Polish, four Ukrainian and two Belarus men and women teams came to the city. Belarus teams jointed the Festival after a seven year long break.

The Ukrainian teams, who won all previous festivals, were leaders of the games. This year strength was shown also by the Polish players – for the first time in history, Lublin University of Technology won the biggest cup in the men’s tournament. Players from Lublin were only one set better then another contender for the cup – National University of Water Management and Nature Recourses Use in Rivne (UKR). Ukrainian University was the strongest team in the men’s tournament, but this time students from Lublin presented more ambition and braveness than their opponents.

Ternopil National Economic University was the leader in the women’s competition. The Ukrainian players won all matches and received the golden cup. The best Polish group was University of Business and Enterprise from Ostrowiec Sw. Girls who play in the first Polish league, lost only two matches against the strong Ukrainian teams and finally reached second place.

Belarus teams were the weakest groups during the Festival nevertheless they presented a very ambitious attitude on the playing field.

The Festival was appreciated as the best in its eight year long history. All teams announced that they will return the next year.

At the end of June in Wilkasy on the Mazurian Lakes, in a facility owned by the University Sports Association of Poland, 25th AZS Sports Festival took place. A few hundred of university students gathered to celebrate. Sports program included: football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, canoeing, sailing boat race and swimming. The program was not only limited to sports events. There were also concerts and performances by the participants. Furthermore, the participants enjoyed a cruise on a boat where they could reminiscence previous festivals.

It should also be said that the facility in Wilkasy is a very important place for AZS. This facility is comprised of a hotel, tennis courts, a cluster of football fields and a yacht port. This year, a rehabilitation center was finally opened to the public. Wilkasy is the perfect place for organization of sports and training camps.

This year participants had also one more reason to come to Wilkasy – the Festival celebrated the 25th anniversary of its existence. Participants from the first event joined people who were there for the first time. It was very interesting to hear stories about previous festivals. Organizers prepared some attractions, like a jazz concert, lottery of AZS souvenirs, evening of the memories. AZS members are now looking forward to a winter festival in the Polish mountains.

(Source: Marian Dymalski & Małgorzata Misiurek, AZS)