The ceremonial signing and symbolic laying of the foundation act for the newly built UG Sports Centre took place at the construction site at 31/37 Wita Stwosza Street in Gdańsk on April 28, 2025. This marks the official start of another important stage in constructing a multi-purpose sports hall with a full-size volleyball and futsal pitch, stands for 300 people, a fitness room, a martial arts room, a music and movement room, and wellness facilities. The facility will be adapted to the needs of people with disabilities and will serve not only the academic community, but also the local community.

‘I am extremely pleased that right now, in the year of the 55th anniversary of the University of Gdańsk, we have begun construction of the first stage of our new university Sports Centre,’ said UG Rector prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski, while welcoming the gathered guests. ‘I think no one doubts that, as the largest academic community in Pomerania, we deserve to have the spirit of what is best in sport - team support - but also what is important in science - a sense of competition, determination and passion - realised in dignified conditions.’

The Rector recalled the successes of the sports sections operating within the ASA UG in the Polish Academic Championships and in national league competitions, and also mentioned the names of University of Gdańsk students representing Poland at the Olympic Games in Paris and Tokyo. He also drew attention to the sponsors and collaborators involved in creating the ethos of academic sport at the University of Gdańsk:

‘We cooperate with the best - with Trefl, creating the University of Gdańsk Trefl Sopot team, with Marcin Gortat's Sports Championship School and with JohnnyBros, which is the title sponsor of the JohnnyBros ASA University of Gdańsk women's volleyball team. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our sponsors for supporting academic sport,’ said prof. Piotr Stepnowski. ‘The construction of a real sports facility is a milestone in the development of our university. Now, not only sports sections competing in national leagues and the academic league, but also a whole host of students and amateur athletes will have their own sports home. It is also an opportunity to open up to new initiatives, attract athletes to camps and training camps, and promote cooperation between the fields of sport and science.’

The Rector of the University of Gdańsk also thanked everyone who contributed to the ambitious project of building the University Sports Centre, in particular the Minister of Science and Higher Education Marcin Kulasek, the former head of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education Dariusz Wieczorek, and the Minister of Sport and Tourism Sławomir Nitras. Ministers Marcin Kulasek and Sławomir Nitras were guests at the event and co-signatories of the Foundation Act.

‘There is no university without sport,’ said Minister Sławomir Nitras. ‘The best universities in the world boast first and foremost about their scientific achievements, and secondly about their sporting achievements. Competitive academic sport is very important, but the universal dimension of sport, including physical education classes, is also important. We should strive to increase the number of hours of these classes!’

The minister pointed out that in recent years, sport has been pushed out of the academic environment and that cooperation is needed to restore the importance of physical activity within the walls of universities, which will undoubtedly be helped by modern sports infrastructure.

‘I agree, sport must return to the academic environment,’ said Minister Marcin Kulasek. ‘This is undoubtedly a historic moment and a milestone on the road to the development of sport at the University of Gdańsk. I am delighted to be able to witness this - thank you very much for the invitation. This is great news not only for academic leagues and sports clubs, but also for the many students who do not treat sport as a competitive activity, but engage in it because they want to enjoy good health and excellent physical condition. Let us not forget about the wider community and the activating role of sports activities; Gdańsk seniors, people requiring rehabilitation, people with disabilities - I believe that they will also be welcome at the newly built Centre. Sport should bring everyone together!’

Representatives of local authorities and the Director of the Centre for Physical Education and Sport at the University of Gdańsk, mgr Tomasz Aftański, also took the floor. After the ceremonial speeches, the Foundation Act was signed by the Rector of the University of Gdańsk, Prof. Piotr Stepnowski, ministers, members of parliament and senators of the Republic of Poland present at the ceremony, representatives of provincial and local authorities, as well as the rector, dean and chancellor of the University of Gdańsk.

The Foundation Act was signed in two copies: one was placed in a special tube and symbolically embedded in the cornerstone, which will be built into the walls of the hall, and the other will be placed in a commemorative display case in the Sports Centre under construction. In addition to the document, the tube contains, in accordance with tradition, a photograph of the construction site, today's daily newspaper and coins minted this year. Although coins minted in 2025 are not yet in circulation, courtesy of the National Bank of Poland, two five-złoty coins were obtained: two fives symbolically representing the 55th anniversary of the University of Gdańsk.

The design of the UG Sports Centre is in line with the principles of sustainable development and care for the natural environment. The facility will be equipped with modern energy solutions, including walls with thermal insulation up to 30 cm thick, a heat pump system powered by vertical ground probes and photovoltaic panels on the roof. A rain garden system is also planned for the investment site to ensure small-scale water retention. The design minimises tree felling; in addition, the contractor has committed to planting two replacement trees for each tree felled.

‘For us, athletes, history is happening before our very eyes,’ said mgr Tomasz Aftański, Director of the University of Gdańsk Sports Centre, during the ceremony. ‘We are all moved that after years of sporting homelessness, we will finally find ourselves under the roof of our university Sports Centre. However, my greatest thanks go to you, dear student athletes. It is you who inspire us and make our work as coaches meaningful. You have proven time and time again that nothing is impossible!’

We also wrote about the construction of the UG Sports Centre here