In some parts of the world, a few diehard hockey players share their passion, even going so far as to create clubs. From Africa to America via Europe and Asia, focus on these unknown countries in underwater hockey. Fifth episode with Poland .
What do Portsmouth and Gdańsk have in common? Apparently, nothing, since the first city is located in England and the other in Poland… Apart from the fact that the two cities are by the sea, what links these two cities are sticks, pucks and fins !The « common » story begins almost 60 years after the founding of underwater hockey in England. It all started during yet another difficult winter by the Baltic Sea. Divers were fed up with diving in pools and decide to give underwater hockey a try! Ten years later, Poland has a national selection, ten clubs and a national championship!
2011 : When everything started !
Member of the Hokeja Podwodnego « Bałtyckie Foki » club, Alicja Serafinowicz, explained to us the particularity of hockey in Poland. Although the sport came to Poland from the north of the country, most clubs are located in the south of the country, closer to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Nations where hockey is already developed. Traffic throughout the Polish territory which is a proof of the development of hockey! Main difficulty and above all main desire : introduce young people to underwater hockey. This is one of Alicja’s main concerns, because it is thanks to the next generation that hockey can settle down in a long-lasting way in this country where access to swimming pools is not very easy. In Gdańsk, for example, club members help the municipality (seabed cleaning, awareness raising, etc.) in exchange for providing a pool.
Time to rise
As for the national selections, it is difficult to participate in world events given the lack of resources in Polish hockey. A situation that, we hope, will improve, because we know the importance of mixing with other hockey nations, in order to be able to progress. Alicja even gave us a smile when we asked her, if Poland was in a position to host a Euro or a World Cup. A World Cup, in summer by the Baltic Sea in the city where Polish underwater hockey was born… Where do we sign to validate the destination?
