Before the Olympic Flame is lit

A guest post by Senator Andrzej Person (Polish Olympic Attaché), marking three weeks to go to the London 2012 Olympics.

It’s only three weeks until the referee blows his whistle to signal the start of the Olympic Football Tournament in Cardiff on 26 July. The next day, Friday 27 July, the eyes of the world will focus on London, where the Olympic Flame will be lit,

watched by billions of people. Every four years, that moment traditionally gathers the largest number of people in front of their TVs. Friday 27 July will be no different. We already know that more than one billion people will watch the spectacle that has been prepared for two years.

What chances do the Polish Olympic and Paralympic teams departing for London have? Let’s be frank – hopes to repeat the successes from the 1960s and 70s are not high. It was during that era when Poland won more than 20 medals  and we were one of the top 10 Olympic teams. Unfortunately, at the last two Games in Athens and Beijing we  won only10 medals. Any more than that in London will be seen as a success. A place among the 20 strongest nations in the world will be a decent result.

So who do we count on to bring home these medals? It is usually the athletes who defend Poland’s honour. We all remember the 7 medals of Irena Szewińska and 4 by racewalker Robert Korzeniowski. In recent years though it has been our throwers who have been most successful. Our Olympic champions from Beijing are in good form: Tomasz Majewski (gold medal, shot put) and Piotr Małachowski (silver medal, discus). Hammer throwing is also one of our strengths. Anita Włodarczyk became world champion in Berlin and until recently held the world record. Adam Kszczot and Marcin Lewandowski (800 meters) will try to break down the coalition of African record holders. Added to that, the male and female pole-vaulters may together win 4 medals. The reality is that experts believe two medal chances turn into one medal in the Olympic stadium.

Water sports is another of our strengths. World champion Piotr Siemionowski and silver medallist Marta Walczykiewicz (sprint canoeing), splendid rowers (Olympic champions in quadruple scull), sailors like Mateusz Kusznierewicz and our windsurfing world champions Przemysław Miarczyński and Zofia Klepacka-Noceti should also not return from London empty-handed. Otylia Jędrzejczak may no longer be such a favourite as in previous years, but Konrad Czerniak should surely swim for medals.

Everyone knows our outstanding mountain biker Maja Włoszczowska. The British people have also got to know Agnieszka Radwańska better, especially in recent weeks. As I write this, our brilliant tennis player fights for victory in the world’s top tennis tournament on grass-courts at Wimbledon. In three weeks’ time, on the same grass, she will do battle again, this time for an Olympic medal. She is not alone – together with her sister Urszula they make an excellent doubles partnership. The men’s double Fyrstenberg – Matkowski also stand a chance. After all, as with every Olympics, we count on surprises, on a dark horse. And, last but not least, we have our terrific men’s volleyball team. Cheered on by thousands of fans from Poland and Poles living in the UK, they will surely be triumphant.

So maybe it will not be as modest as the sceptics predict. Maybe in London we will be as successful as we were in the past. Let it be so!