events in 2001

One of the strategic aims included in the document entitled “Strategic Plan for Gdynia" was the creation of the so-called Baltic Ring of Gdynia Sister Cities. The ring was closed on 24th February 2001 by signing an agreement on twinning co-operation between the city of Gdynia and the city of Kunda. The agreement signed during an official visit of the Gdynia representatives in Estonia assumes inhabitants’ exchange, realisation of common projects as well as organisation and participation in events whose aim is a mutual presentation in the fields of education, culture, sport, tourism, environment as well as social care and economy.

Kunda is located by the Virumy River in northern Estonia. The first mention about the village of Kunda comes from the year 1241, but it was in 1938 that Kunda received City Rights. The development of the City started in the beginning of the 19th century on the construction of the port, which opened the city to the world. Today, Kunda has a population of approximately 4100 inhabitants. Among the most important firms in Kunda are Kunda Nordic Cement, ABB Kunda and Lajos Transport Services.

On 7th April 2001 the Annual Meeting of the UBC Commission on Sport took place in Sopot. The Commission Chairman is Mr. Władysław Kozakiewicz, Gdynia City Councillor. 20 representatives from 13 cities from Denmark, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden and Poland participated in the meeting. During their speeches, the representatives from Aalborg (Denmark) presented a project entitled “Senior Sport Project", whereas the co-ordinator from Frankfurt upon Main in Germany introduced the “Network for the European Youth Work in Sports". Next, in the speech entitled “Unihockey - Sport for Everyone" the representatives of the Polish Unihockey Federation introduced to everyone the idea of this universal sport.

During the meeting the Commission chairman was elected. This post was once again given to Mr. Władysław Kozakiewicz. Moreover, the budget for the present year was discussed. The commission also announced which cities received grants from the Union of the Baltic Cities with a view to organise sports events. On the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Union of the Baltic Cities, Commission on Sport decided to award more grants. The allocation of a greater number of grants will contribute to a broader promotion of the UBC.

In November last year, Foreign Relations Department of the Gdynia City Hall submitted an application to the Association of Communes of the Republic of Poland of the Euroregion Baltic for the co-financing of the project entitled “United Against Drugs". The project was to be financed from the Small Projects Fund within the Phare Cross-border Cooperation Programme, Poland - Baltic Sea Region. The applied sum of 4 393, 69 EURO was granted.

The project was carried out in the form of three-day workshops, which took place in Gdynia from 24th to 26th April 2001. The representatives from Gdynia and its three sister cities: Klaipeda, Karlskrona and Kaliningrad participated in the workshops. They represented various professional groups, such as police, social workers, therapists and self-governmental workers, briefly people who deal with drugs on everyday basis.

The aim of the project was, among others, the presentation of actions in the field of drugs carried out by four partner cities, as well as the creation of contact groups in order to reduce drug addiction risk. Moreover, the project “United Against Drugs" was a great opportunity to integrate the drug prevention actions between self-government, social care institutions and NGO’s.

From 11th-13th May 2001 the 9th Twin Cities Competition was held in Gdynia. 350 competitors from Gdynia and its 7 sister cities: Baranovichi, Karlskrona, Kiel, Klaipeda, Kaliningrad, Liepaja and the Vilnius Region took part in this sporting event. The sportsmen competed in four sporting disciplines: volleyball, soccer, judo and sports rifle shooting.

The competition was inaugurated on 11th May 2001 at the Gdynia Sports Centre. The Mayor of Gdynia, Mr. Wojciech Szczurek, officially opened the Competition. He was assisted by Martyna Dąbkowska, a young gymnast who lit the Olympic Torch.
Following the opening ceremony, athletes started two-day sporting competitions, which ended on 13th May with the award giving ceremony. In general classifications, Gdynia was placed first, followed by Baranovichi and Klaipeda.

On 26th April 2001, the second edition of the Gdynia Mayor’s Writing Competition “From Gdynia to … Seattle" was organised. Just as last year, the participants had to write an essay in English on one of the three given topics. They were divided into two age categories: 1st group - 16/17 years old and 2nd group - 18/19 year old. In all 131 participants took part in the competition: 79 persons (in 1st age category) and 52 persons (in 2nd age category).
From all of the works, the Competition Jury chose 20 best ones, which then were submitted, to Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association. The Association, in a secret vote chose 4 competition winners who received scholarships in Seattle. American Culture Exchange, Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association and the City Hall of Gdynia sponsored the scholarships. Among the winners who received the scholarships there are:

1. 1st age category:
a) Agnieszka Abramowicz (High School No. 2) - 3 week scholarship at A.C.E. Junior Institute
b) Artur Palacz (High School No. 3) - 3 week scholarship at Seattle Summer
Institute
2. 2nd age category:
a) Diana Krawczyk (High School No. 14) - 5 week scholarship at Seattle Pacific
University
b) Agnieszka Rejman (High School No. 7) - 5 week scholarship at North Seattle
Centre

The City Hall of Gdynia received a grant of 4682,74 EURO from the Small Projects Fund within the Phare Cross-border Cooperation Programme, Poland - Baltic Sea Region for a project entitled “Democracy at the Local Self-governmental Level Based on the Example of Gdynia and Liepaja".

The project was an initiative of the Foreign Relations Department of the City Hall of Gdynia. It took place from 30th May to 2nd June 2001 as a continuation of a 1999 project carried out in Gdynia under the name “Presentation of the City and Region of Liepaja" during which a two-year twinning cooperation agreement was signed.

During this year’s project a group of Gdynia self-governmental officers/specialists as well as the representatives of Gdynia NGO’s (Municipal Theatre, Social Care Department, Youth Cooperation Centre, “Baltic" Football Club, Gdynia Sports Centre, Municipal Public Library, representatives from Gdynia schools) visited Liepaja. One of the aims of this project was the cultural and scientific presentation of Gdynia within the resolutions included in the cooperation agreement. Numerous meetings took place in Liepaja with the partners from the local self-government and institutions as well as the NGO’s. The meetings were based on the experience exchange, which in the future will help to carry out common projects. Contacts were established with the Polish community - Polish Association in Latvia - Liepaja branch. Within the cooperation agreement, the Gdynia Municipal Public Library, is sending a gift of books to Liepaja this August. Those books are supposed to help compatriots to learn Polish. The gift will also include other books written in Polish (mainly classics and interesting books for children and teenagers).

Moreover, during the stay in Liepaja, a permanent agreement on twinning cooperation between the two cities was signed.

From 16th-24th June 2001 an international event “Kieler Woche" took place in Kiel, Germany. This is the most important annual summer event in northern Germany visited by over 2 million tourists. During “Kieler Woche" the world biggest sailing races called the “Wimbledon" of sailing took place. The races were accompanied by cultural events such as exhibitions, concerts and theatre performances. Jazz, rock and popular music groups performed in outdoor concerts.

Within “Kieler Woche" an “International Fair" is organised each year with national stands. This event resembles a folk picnic, each city presents its handmade products, music from its region and information about its region.

In 2001, 30 countries participated in the International Fair. Poland was represented by Gdynia - Kiel’s sister city, Pomeranian Region and a firm from Tarnów, which produces glassware. Gdynia stand offered promotional materials about the city as well as amber products and embroidery.

From 15th-18th June 2001 Mr. Jerzy Miotke, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia, visited Kiel as an official representative of the city. The Programme for the official delegation included a welcome address by the mayor of Kiel, Mr. Norbert Gansel, other City Officials as well as participation in the “Kieler Woche" opening ceremonies together with invited guests as well as consular and diplomatic corps.

Mr. Jerzy Miotke also represented Gdynia at the International City Forum, an annual event organised within “Kieler Woche". This year’s Forum was organised for the 25th time and its subject was “Foundation as a tool of local community’s Involvement".

Inhabitants’ exchange between Kiel and Gdynia has become a tradition. It was initiated in 1995 with the visit of Kiel inhabitants to Gdynia. Since then, this event has become very popular because it allows us to get to know better the inhabitants of the sister city of Kiel as well as to establish sincere and friendly contacts.

From 6th-9th July of this year, Gdynia was visited once again by a group of 40 inhabitants of Kiel. They were accompanied by Mr. Erich Schirmer, Kiel City Board Member, Mr. Heiko Weczerek, from the Foreign Relations Department of the City Hall of Kiel and Mr. Jan Kühler-Kaeß, a journalist from a local newspaper “Kieler Nachrichten".

At the meeting, which took place in the City Hall, guests were officially welcomed by Mr. Jerzy Miotke, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia and by Mrs. Joanna Zielińska, City Board Member. During their stay in Gdynia, guests from Kiel, together with their Gdynia hosts participated in a boat cruise in the Gdańsk Bay. They also took part in a get-together party with a general knowledge competition about Gdynia and Kiel. There were some very attractive prizes for the winners.

Apart from taking part in the activities prepared by the City Hall of Gdynia, guests from Kiel had the opportunity to spend some time together with their host families, which contributed in establishing new friendships and reinforcing the existing contacts.

From 1st-23rd June 2001, within the project “Partnership for Peace", Polish Navy took part in the international exercises BALTOPS 2001. The programme of the exercises was worked out by the commanding staff of the USA Naval Forces in Europe, its first stage started on 1st June in Gdynia. So, from 1st -5th June 2001 our city was visited by 45 vessels from 12 countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Poland, Sweden, United States of America, Russia, Great Britain.

In compliance with the navy ceremonial the commanding officers from the above mentioned countries as well as the representatives of Polish navy paid a visit to the City Hall of Gdynia on 1st June 2001.

While in Gdynia, the Polish Navy organised a cultural event for the staff members from all the vessels, which participated in the exercises. The vessels themselves were open to the public.

From 13th-16th July 2001 Gdynia was visited by a group of 9 vessels of the NATO Standing Naval Forces Atlantic - STANAVFORLANT. The task of this group is the immediate response in the crisis situations. The group consists of vessels from Canada, Germany, Holland, Great Britain and temporarily vessels from Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal and Spain.

Since April this year the Commanding Chief of Stanavforlant has been Mr. Fernando Melo Gomez who on 13th July, together with the commanding chiefs of German and American Navy paid a visit to the City Hall of Gdynia. After the meeting with Gdynia Authorities, guests visited the headquarters of Gdynia Police.

Similarly to the BALTOPS exercises, during their stay in Gdynia, vessels of the STANAVFORLANT were open to the public.

From 6th-15th July 2001 a ship “library" - Logos II was docked at the Pomeranian Quay in Gdynia. As a “floating library" the ship promoted mutual understanding, knowledge as well as tolerance among nations. During 12 years of its existence, the ship has visited over 70 countries all over the world hosting on its board about 8 million people.

While in Gdynia “Logos II" offered to its guests around half a million books, comprising 4000 titles in fields such as medicine, history, computers, philosophy, religion and many more. Moreover, visitors had the opportunity to visit the ship and try some of the international cuisine.

On 14th July, one day before its departure from Gdynia, the crew of “Logos II" organised an International Evening, which included a very dynamic and full of expression artistic programme. The programme was like a very colourful journey around the world and a unique opportunity to get to know different cultures, habits and national costumes.

The Association of Saint Lawrence Hospice has been operating in Gdynia since 1987. Its main aim is to provide care for people who are terminally ill and suffer from cancer as well as from AIDS. The hospice is designed for lonely people or for those who are in dire straits. Unfortunately maintaining such an institution requires enormous financial means, that is why the hospice managers with great pleasure accepted the donation of 414 GBP from Mr W. Piątkowski - a member of Gdynia Twinning Panel which acts in Plymouth. These means came from the fund “Save the Gdynia Children" and were allocated to purchase analgesic medicine as well as to create better conditions for the patients of this institution.

In July 2001 when a raging flood devastated the south of Poland, the city of Gdynia organised a humanitarian action for the flood victims. Additionally, a help appeal was sent to Gdynia sister cities for Gorzyce - commune most affected by the flood. The appeal was answered by Kiel, Karlskrona and Plymouth, which offered financial help. Moreover, Gdynia collected material and financial means among the local society by organising charity concerts and auctions for the flood victims.

As a result of the collection carried out by the volunteers of Gdynia Committee of Flood Victim Aid, members of the Polish Scouting Association and “Razem" Association, not only money was collected but also material gifts: hygienic products, sheets and blankets as well as food.

On 28th of January 2001 a group of 30 representatives from the Association of Swedish Self-government Finance Specialists visited Gdynia. They participated in a meeting in the City Hall of Gdynia, inaugurated by a computer presentation of the city. Later political and administrative structure of the country was presented as well as the regulations concerning financing municipalities on the example of Gdynia. Moreover, there were presented issues connected with the ways medical service functions in Poland.

Gdynia and Plymouth signed “The Co-operation Agreement" on 11th of September 1976 which resulted among others in workshops for Gdynia physicians in Derrford Hospital in Plymouth, donation of medical equipment to Gdynia Hospital, books for learning English for Gdynia schools and help after fire outbreak in the Arena of Gdańsk Shipyard.

On the occasion of anniversary celebration, the solemn events took place in both cities: visit of Gdynia municipality representatives to Plymouth - the ceremony of the election of Mayor, unveiling of the memorial plate commemorating the seat of Polish Navy during II World War in Plymouth and the exhibition “Gdynia as seen by three generations of photographers" staged by Gdynia artists in Plymouth.

Between 4-9.09.2001 an official delegation from Plymouth under the leadership of Lord Mayor Mr David Viney visited Gdynia. Within the celebration of the 25th anniversary of our contacts, the guests participated in the ceremony of the opening of the photographic exhibition “25th anniversary of Gdynia - Plymouth co-operation". Moreover the delegation participated in the solemn presentation of household equipment to the Orphanage in Gdynia Demptowo, that was bought with the help of Gdynia Twinning Panel. During the stay in Gdynia guests also paid a visit to the Municipal Hospital, to the High School no 3 and Junior High School no 1, where they met pupils who this year visited St. Dunstan’s Abbey School in Plymouth.

Within the co-operation with the sister city of Seattle American partners invited 4 Gdynia policemen to participate in a training. Gdynia Police has been co-operating with Swedish Police from Karlskrona for a few years. During this year’s project “United Against Drugs“ Gdynia Police started to co-operate with police from Klaipeda (Lithuania). The next partners, to exchange some experience, became Americans.
Between 9-23 September 2001 four policemen from Gdynia participated in a complex training in Seattle concerning structure of US police, range of activities in the particular departments, prevention and support programmes for violence victims and their families. What is more, Gdynia policemen had a chance to participate in the routine patrols of American policemen. Additionally, representatives of Gdynia police participated in an official meeting in the Seattle municipality during City Council session and were present in the meetings of Public Security Commission and City Council Commission of Finances.

Klaipeda -the study visit took place between 12-14.09.2001 in our Lithuanian sister city. It regarded public transport. The City Hall of Gdynia, Board of Gdynia Port and Police represented the Polish party. During the visit the participants learned about the system of public transport, application of preventive solutions in the public transport, the most important transport nodes and the base of public transport in Klaipeda.

Karlskrona - the study visit took place between 19-22.09.2001. The subjects of the meeting were issues connected with adults’ education, educational system in Sweden, integrated education and the syllabus of vocational education. In the visit participated the City Hall of Gdynia representatives and the headmasters of Gdynia schools.

On 25.09.2001 in Gdynia aboard the ferry Stena Europe the 5th meeting of Business Convention Baltic 2001 was held. It is an annual event in which participate companies and organisations from the Baltic countries. This year 52 companies from Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, Russia and Germany turned up at the meeting. The main organiser of this event was Baltic Business Center from Karlskrona.

This is a joint Polish-Swedish initiative that supports small and medium enterprises. The aim of Business Convention Baltic 2001 was to create the opportunity for businessmen from Baltic countries to meet and establish contacts. This event supports the development of local entrepreneurship and imparts dynamism in contacts between cities and Baltic Regions.

On 28.11.2001 a visit of Liepaja representatives under the leadership of Mayor Uldis Sesks took place. During the meeting the marketing of Gdynia, the way the city promotes itself and Gdynia housing policy were presented. Guests had also a chance to visit Gdynia’s vocational training village whose aim is to diminish the unemployment rate, to requalificate workers and train them in a new job.
The purpose of this visit was to instruct Liepaja delegation on Gdynia investing campaign and entrepreneurship policy and to compare Gdynia experience with the results achieved by Liepaja.

On 7.12.2001 a group of 14 teachers from Liepaja invited by one of Gdynia schools arrived in Gdynia. The aim of this visit was to learn about Polish educational system and set up the co-operation programme between Latvian and Polish teachers.