Polish embassy protests at 'embarrassing' version of national anthem
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
09.08.2018 15:00
The Polish embassy in Berlin has protested after complaints that Poland’s national anthem was badly performed during a medal ceremony at the European track-and-field championships in the German capital, a news agency reported on Thursday.
European hammer throw champion Wojciech Nowicki (right) and runner-up Paweł Fajdek (left) during a medal ceremony at the European Athletics Championships in Berlin on Wednesday. Photo: PAP/Adam Warżawa
"We stepped in after the embassy began receiving emails with information about the embarrassing performance of the Polish national anthem while medals were being handed to Polish hammer throwers Paweł Fajdek and Wojciech Nowicki," Dariusz Pawłoś, a spokesman for the embassy, said on Thursday, as quoted by Polish Radio's IAR news agency.
The Polish Athletic Association has also complained over the performance of the anthem in Berlin, Pawłoś told the Polish public broadcaster.
He added: “The complaints were successful; the organisers have sent an official note to the Polish Athletic Association with an apology.”
Poland’s Wojciech Nowicki won gold and countryman Paweł Fajdek took silver in the men’s hammer throw at the European Athletics Championships in Berlin on Tuesday.
Later that day, Poland’s Michał Haratyk won the gold in the men's shot put while his countryman Konrad Bukowiecki took the silver in Berlin.
With three gold medals and two silvers, Poland was in the lead in the overall standings halfway through the European Athletics Championships, which were being held in the German capital from August 6 to 12.
A record 86 Polish competitors were taking part in the championships.
(gs/pk)
Source: IAR