Racing sailboat to promote Poland internationally
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
12.10.2017 08:35
Officials in Poland have launched a new government-sponsored yachting project to promote the country internationally.
Deputy PM Piotr Gliński (left) and Olympic sailing champion Mateusz Kusznierewicz at the launch of the Polska100 project in Warsaw on Wednesday. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka
The Polska100 project will see an ocean-going racing sailboat under the Polish flag call at more than 100 ports around the world to strengthen the country’s positive image abroad.
The expedition, manned by a crew led by Olympic sailing champion Mateusz Kusznierewicz, will begin next summer and last two years, during which the boat is expected to travel over 40,000 nautical miles.
“Polska100 is an image-building programme that refers to the strengths of our country and its ties with the sea, sailing, and sporting achievements,” Deputy Prime Minister and Culture Minister Piotr Gliński said as he launched the project on Wednesday.
Kusznierewicz said that next year will mark 100 years since Poland regained independence. "We want to commemorate this anniversary in a unique way: we are going to sail around the world in an ocean-going racing boat, large, very fast, operated by a Polish crew, and sailing under the Polish flag," he said.
The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have chipped in to support the project. (gs/pk)
Source: PAP