"Polish Day" at the Supreme Command of NATO Allied Powers in Europe
The Polish Tourism Organisation acted as a strategic partner of the celebrations of the 3rd of May Constitution Day organised by the Polish National Military Representation at the NATO General Headquarters Shape. Also involved in the event were LOT Polish Airlines, the Łódzkie, Mazowieckie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeships and the five voivodeships affiliated in the East Poland House in Brussels. The Polish Tourism Organisation was represented by Deputy President Marcin Różycki.
That important event, addressed to NATO Shape's international audience of several thousand soldiers, their families and selected guests from outside the organisation, was organised with a flourish, military drill and Polish fantasy. The main objective of the Polish Tourism Organisation was to promote cycling tourism which can find many amateurs of two wheels among servicemen and their families.
The official part of the Polish Day at NATO Shape began with a moving speech by the Polish National Military Representative to the Supreme Command of NATO Allied Forces in Europe, Pilot Brigadier General Slawomir Mąkosa. He stressed the paramount value of every nation's right to freedom and Poland's commitment to helping Ukraine. During the ceremony held at the Alliance Auditorium, prizes were awarded to the winners of the first edition of the POL SOF RUN which took place the same day before noon. PTO Deputy President Marcin Różycki handed over the award to the fastest woman participating in the run. The audience listened to a magnificent concert of the Representative Artistic Ensemble of the Polish Army, which familiarised the audience with Polish patriotic and military songs, but also enchanted with a selection of the world's most beautiful hits.
In the part addressed to the general public, the biggest attraction was a bicycle acrobatic show by Krystian Herba, performing at the invitation of the PTO. The Green Velo ambassador received a thunderous ovation for his impressive jumps, tricks and flips. The subject of the Eastern bicycle route was also promoted in the already famous 5 D Capsule of the Regional Tourism Organisation of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship brought by the Świętokrzyskie Region Brussels Office . The cycling theme was complemented with brochures and a beautiful photo exhibition of the Polish Tourism Organisation and the Małopolska Region presenting the most interesting places of the VeloMałopolska route.
The PTO together with LOT Polish Airlines funded the main prize in a lottery held with the participation of the PTO Deputy President. A stay in Kraków together with a flight with LOT Polish Airlines was won by Hasan Saygin, a Turkish doctor working for NATO Shape. In his address, Deputy President Marcin Różycki thanked the NATO soldiers for their work guaranteeing border security in the difficult situation Europe is currently experiencing and invited them to visit Poland, a safe country that has a lot to offer to tourists.
In a huge tent beautifully decorated with Polish national colours, the regions presented themselves. Their various stands tempted visitors with regional delicacies, various attractions, brochures and souvenirs.
The organisers took care of the best artistic setting of the event. There were also performances by children from Polish schools and great bands - the Naval Vocal Ensemble RIWIERA and the SHAPE Band as well as the folk group "Spotkanie". The guests could taste the best Polish cuisine, and the area around the tent was filled with attractions for adults and children prepared in cooperation with the regions. The participants could try their hand at arts and crafts, astronomy, gingerbread baking or cyanotypes workshops.
Running enthusiasts had the opportunity to sign up for the September "Polish Run" organised for the sixth time in Brussels by the EastPoland House and the Polish Embassy with the support of the Polish Tourism Organisation.
The Polish Day at NATO Shape was attended by many important guests from the diplomatic and military world, including the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland the North Atlantic Council Ambassador Tomasz Szatkowski, Lieutenant General Janusz Adamczak, Lieutenant General Krzysztof Król, representatives of Shape Command, National Military Representatives of NATO Allied States, Marshall of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship Andrzej Bętkowski, President of Regional Tourism Organization of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship Marcin Piętak as well as Vice-Marshals and Board Members of Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Lubelskie, Łódzkie and Podkarpackie Voivodeships.
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) is the headquarters of Allied Command Operations, one of NATO's two strategic commands. It is located near the Walloon city of Mons, 70 km south of Brussels. It is NATO's highest command for operations. It is responsible for the coordination of all operations undertaken by Alliance forces both inside and outside treaty territory.