On October 17, a press conference was held at Willa Goldstein’s house in Katowice, dedicated to the announcement and solemn signing of the declaration “Stop aggression in the world of sport”.

The conference brought together the deputy mayors of the city of Katowice Bogumił Sobula and Waldemar Bojarun, the president of GKS GieKSa Katowice SA Marek Szczerbowski, as well as Artur Orman, deputy commander of the municipal police of Katowice and representatives of sports associations: Vice President of the Polish Football Association Wojciech Cygan, President of the Polish Hockey Federation Lodzie Mirosław Minkina, President of the Polish Volleyball Federation Sebastian Świderski and President of the Polish Volleyball League Artur Popko.

– Sport, sporting spectacle, positive emotions, respect, safety – these are the values ​​that accompanied us when we decided to convene this conference. We have a large group of people who share these values. The development of the environment around the sports club must be done with mutual respect between the parties. I am aware that the stands must be full and that people who wish to show various emotions have the right to sit on them. It is important that it takes place within socially acceptable limits, and that each participant in the event feels safe. Anyone who shares our values ​​is welcome at sporting events organized by GKS Katowice and we will do our best to ensure that they are respected. Assuring you all of pure intentions, we invite anyone who opposes aggressive behavior and is ready to condemn breaking the law at mass events to co-create the GKS Katowice brand.h – said the president of GKS Marek Szczerbowski.

The representative of the Katowice municipal police headquarters, Artur Orman, assured that the Katowice police is ready to carry out tasks related to the organization of mass events, as well as preventive activities in cooperation with schools and kindergartens. – Our business is hard and visible security for events, and the hard work of services and organizers yields good results. We ensure safe traffic in the event area and the return of their participants home. We are open to cooperation with anyone who wants to provide security with us – added.

– I agree with the statement one hundred percent, safety is the most important thing. We declare full cooperation at all levels and willingness to help create shows at the highest level He said Sebastian Swidersky. – The recent world championships held in our country, also in Katowice, showed that Polish fans can be a precursor for other sports in Poland. It was born in Katowice: whole families came to the halls, supporting their teams. The investment in the form of a new stadium will create new and improved support comfort, which we very much wish for Katowice and GKS. – added Arthur Popko.

– We strive to ensure that sport brings people together and enables them to come in large numbers to sporting events, which will be accompanied by positive emotions and cultural encouragement. There is a lot to do in our sport discipline, but in 2016, thanks to the cooperation with the city of Katowice, we were able to organize an event for almost eight thousand fans. We want to maintain such achievements and provide fans with a positive way to spend their free time. – he assured Miroslaw Minkina.

– We all want loud, fanatical cheering in football stadiums that are totally safe and full of fans. I express my full willingness to cooperate on my own behalf and on behalf of the Polish Football Association, we will join in all aid activities and I subscribe to the presented statement 100%. Considering the sports results achieved by the GKS Katowice football team at the present time, there are good wishes for the best achievements and the achievement of the dream goal in the form of sports promotion with grandstands complete. – he assessed Wojciech Cygan.

At the end, the deputy mayors of Katowice, Bogumił Sobula and Waldemar Bojarun, took the floor. – We have been building the GKS Katowice multi-section regularly for years. We all want sport to evoke positive connotations while embracing other points of view and sympathies. We will not succeed without implementing the idea of ​​positive encouragement, incl. teach respect for losers. Our most important goal is the financial and organizational order of GKS Katowice, the education of children and young people and the appropriate infrastructure. In two and a half years, we want to enjoy the matches of our athletes in comfortable conditions with the support of satisfied fans. President Marcin Krupa is of the opinion that there will be no top club without ensuring the fundamental aspects – He said Bogumił Sobula.

– We show a certain model of cooperation between the city and various organizations, which has been working well for years, as well as a model of forming positive cheers, in which there is room for passion and concern for safety . In terms of the broad training model for children and young people, we still face challenges that require close cooperation with sports organizations in the spirit of fair play. All these activities have an effect: Katowice exists on the sports map of Poland thanks to major sporting events of international importance, but also thanks to the exploits of hockey players, volleyball players, footballers and chess players. In addition, there are futsal and basketball clubs in Katowice, we are also satisfied with the medals of athletes representing AZS AWF Katowice. We are open to any sports discipline with which we can cooperate in terms of training young people – he assessed Waldemar Bojarun.

The highlight of the meeting was the signing ceremony of the declaration by the conference guests, the full content of which is presented below.

DECLARATION “STOP AGGRESSION IN THE WORLD OF SPORT”

Building a sports club and creating a community around it is an extremely responsible task that rests on the shoulders of all those who wish to participate in this process. Sport is a good way to shape healthy social attitudes based on respect and adherence to norms. We believe that sport can arouse great emotions, help build local identity and educate young people.

Fan support is an important part of how clubs operate. Appreciating their role, we also believe that in the world of sport there is no place for negative attitudes in the stands that manifest themselves in law breaking, aggression and hate speech. We strongly condemn such behavior.

We publicly sign this declaration stressing that we want to co-create professional sport at a high level and enjoy the successful performances of athletes in safe sports facilities.