A GREAT British Olympic Weekend in Kraków

The last weekend of the Proms season and the climax of the Great British Paralympics in London. A quick dash from the Embassy to the evening train to Kraków. What a Great weekend.

This was the end of the week where both British and Polish Olympic teams exceeded their medal targets – the UK 3rd in the global medal rankings and Poland 3rd in a strong line up of EU countries.

Saturday morning off to Kraków Valley Country Club to open a Charity Golf Tournament Golf and Paralympic picnic kindly organised by the British Polish Chamber of Commerce (BPCC). A range of superb partners led by UBS made this a really great event. The day was a fundraiser for the Avanti Foundation, the mission of which is to create opportunities in Paralympic sport. A Great British thank you to BPCC Kraków for organising this spectacular event.

A star-studded line up of golfers led off by Jerzy Dudek and a host of attractions for all the family. Handbike riding ~ fast and furious~ an opportunity to try your hand at golf – more difficult than it looks. A key feature of the day was a link up to Kasia Rogowiec in London ~ Poland’s latest medal tally 31. A commendation for HMA Robin Barnett who was at the Paralympic Athlete Departing Ceremony. Check out the British Embassy Warsaw YouTube channel for the link-up, my speeches at the event and a test ride on a handbike.

Fast transfer to Kraków’s Philharmonic and all ready for the 17th Last Night of the Proms in Kraków ~ a spectacle of British Polish music opened by Charge d’Affaires Jessica with the right pomp and circumstance for the occasion. Henry Wood would have been proud. A fantastic concert in Kraków – a Polish version of the Albert Hall which was simultaneously being replicated across the UK.

Poland now has 36 medals. A record. The UK well exceeded targets coming an envious 3rd in the global rankings – another Great record to bring London 2012 to a kaleidoscopic close.

Today we are off to welcome Poland’s heroic Paralympians back to Warsaw. London 2012 has been the best Paralympics ever. A testament to integration and sporting excellence. Watch this space.