“We are of the opinion that accepting the rhetoric of defeat is harmful both for athletes and for coaches, physiotherapists, psychologists, nutritionists and other members of the training teams”, we read.
The authors of the letter also argue that it is not the Polish Olympic Committee that is responsible for the training and performance of athletes at the Games, but rather the sports associations and the Ministry of Sports, which finances them in this matter.
“Provoking a national scandal due to failure to obtain the number of medals predicted by the Polish Olympic Committee will not contribute to increasing motivation for sports, and the possible cut, as if as a punishment, of funds provided by the Ministry of Sports and Tourism will result in a lack of continuity in training, which will primarily affect athletes and, therefore, the entire Polish sport”, state the POC authorities.
According to the draft declaration, the Polish Olympic Committee cannot disclose information about contracts with committee sponsors, because these are not subsidies, but “income from business activities”.
The Polish Olympic Committee’s war with the government
“No legal provision gives the Minister of Sports and Tourism the right to control the Polish Olympic Committee. Any attempt to introduce this kind of control over the activities of national Olympic committees by any government in the world could be treated by the International Olympic Committee as an attempt to politicize the organization, and this is not permitted by the provisions of the Olympic Charter,” we read.
