| ORDERS AND DECORATIONS OF POLAND People's Republic of Poland 1944-1989 Republic of Poland since 1990 (Click here to see updates) |
In People's Poland all awards for sports merit were conferred by the Chief Committee for Physical Development (Glowny Komitet Kultury Fizycznej - until 1960), Chief Committee for Physical Development and Tourism (Glowny Komitet Kultury Fizycznej i Turystyki - 1960-1985), Chief Committee for Physical Development and Sports (Glowny Komitet Kultury Fizycznej i Sportu - 1985-1987), and finally by the Committee for the Youth and Physical Culture (Komitet do Spraw Mlodziezy i Kultury Fizycznej - 1987-89). In the Thirrd Republic that role was taken up by the Office of Physical Culture and Tourism (Urzad Kultury Fizycznej i Turystyki). As it is not known if all of the decorations presened below are still conferred the periods of People's Poland and Third Republic have been compiled on a single page.
1.Meritorious Sport Champion
[reverse 1950-60]The Meritorious Sport Champion Decoration was instituted by decision of the Government on April 17, 1950 and the Sport Champion Decoration on May 30, 1985. Both are conferred together with the title of Meritorious Sport Champion or Sport Champion to those sportsmen and sportswomen who had obtained the title of Champion of Poland, represented Poland at least once at the Olympic Games, three times at world or European championships, became World or European Champion, or set up a world or European record. The title of Meritorious Sport Champion is conferred on those sportsmen and women who having previously obtained the title of Sport Champion showed later particular sport achievement again, including obtaining a medal at the olympic games or world or European championships, or setting up another world or European record.
Meritorious Champion badge: gold medal, 34 mm of diameter. Obverse: a runner crossing the finish line, surrounded by a white enameled ring, inscribed: ZASLUZONY : MISTRZ SPORTU. Five stylited letters M on red background protrude from the ring, forming a five pointed starReverse 1950-1960: - GLOWNY KOMITET : KULTURY / FIZYCZNEJ; 1960-1985: GLOWNY KOMITET : KULTURY / FIZYCZNEJ / I TURYSTYKI; 1985-1987: GLOWNY KOMITET : KULTURY / FIZYCZNEJ / I SPORTU; 1987-89: KOMITET DO SPRAW MLODZIEZY : I KULTURY / FIZYCZNEJ. Below there are two laurel sprays.
Champion badge: silver medal, 27 mm of diameter. Obverse: a runner crossing the finish line, surrounded by a white enameled ring, inscribed: MISTRZ : SPORTU. Five stylited letters M on red background protrude from the ring, forming a five pointed star. Reverse: blank.
Suspension: Meritorious Champion - golden bar, 30 x 8 mm, enameled blue and red; Champion - silver bar, 23 x 6 mm, enameled blue, white and red.
1.ObverseInstituted: by decision of the government of May 30, 1985. Conferred together with the title of Meritorious Coach to most outstanding sport coaches. Comes in one class.
Badge: golden round medal, 35 mm of diameter. Obverse: a statue of the discobolus, surrounded by a red enameled ring with the circumscription: ZASLUZONY TRENER; the whole is surrounded by a laurel wreath. Reverse 1985-1987: GLOWNY / KOMITET / KULTURY / FIZYCZNEJ / I SPORTU; 1987-89: KOMITET / DO SPRAW / MLODZIEZY / I KULTURY / FIZYCZNEJ. There is a laurel spray on the left.
Suspension: metal bar 35 x 8 mm, enameled red, blue and white.
1.Obverse (gold)(Odznaka "Zasluzony Dzialacz Kultury Fizycznej")
Instituted by decision of the Government of April 17, 1950; renewed by decision of the President of the Office of Physical Culture and Tourism of December 11, 1996. Conferred originally in one class (gold), extended to three (gold, silver and bronze) in 1971 for achievement in popularizing sports, physical culture and tourism and increasing its level.
Badge: octagonal medal, 35 mm of diameter. Obverse: a star of eight sets of plain rays. The central medallion depicts a runner with a torch in his hand; the red enameled ring bears the inscription: ZASLUZONY DZIALACZ KULTURY FIZYCZNEJ. Reverse 1950-1960: - GLOWNY / KOMITET / KULTURY / FIZYCZNEJ; 1960-1985: GLOWNY / KOMITET / KULTURY / FIZYCZNEJ / I TURYSTYKI; 1985-1987: GLOWNY / KOMITET / KULTURY / FIZYCZNEJ / I SPORTU; 1987-89: KOMITET / DO SPRAW / MLODZIEZY / I KULTURY / FIZYCZNEJ; 1996: URZAD / KULTURY / FIZYCZNEJ / I TURYSTYKI.
Suspension: metal bar, 30 x 9 mm, with six narrow horizontal stripes of blue and red enamel.
Ribbon (unofficial): until 1996 - 28 mm, of 9 blue and 8 red vertical stripes; since 1996 - 35 mm, of 6 blue and 6 red horizontal stripes.
1.Obverse(Medal za Wybitne Osiagniecia Sportowe)
Instituted by the Government on July 7, 1954. Conferred in three classes (gold, silver and bronze) to sportsmen and sportswomen for outstanding achievement in sport. The gold medal could be conferred to sportsmen and sportswomen who had obtained the title of olympic champion, world champion or European champion, or who had set up a world or European record. The silver medal could be conferred for olympic, world or European vice-championship. The bronze medal could be conferred for getting the third place respectively.
Badge: round medal, 40 mm of diameter. Obverse: two heads, turned left, with laurel wreaths on. Reverse: rectangular shield with an inscription: ZA / WYBITNE / OSIAGNIECIA / SPORTOWE and an ornament below.
Suspension: narrow horizontal metal bar with a red enameled square shield in the center, surrounded by a laurel wreath.
1.Badge (People's Republic)(Odznaka honorowa "Za Zaslugi dla Turystyki")
Instituted by decision of the Government of December 21, 1960 as the Meritorious Activist of Tourism Decoration (Odznaka "Zasluzony Dzialacz Turystyki"). Conferred originally in one class, extended to three (gold, silver and bronze) in 1971. Reestablished again in a single class on January 27, 1998. Conferred to Polish and foreign nationals as well as organizations in recognition of their contribution to development of tourism.
Badge 1960: triangular plaque, each edge being 27.5 mm, depicting an outline map of Poland in white and red enamel and circumscribed ZASLUZONY : DZIALACZ : TURYSTYKI. The reverse has a mounting pin.
Badge 1998: silver medal, 35 mm in diameter. Obverse: stylized eagle's head circumscribed ZA ZASŁUGI DLA TURYSTYKI on the left. Reverse: blank.
Suspension 1998: enameled coat of arms of the Republic superimposed on white and red enameled ribbon. The decoration is worn on the right.
1.Gold decorationInstituted by Minister of National Defense in 1969. conferred in three classes (gold, silver and bronze) to conscript soldiers, airmen and seamen, winners in fitness competitions.
Badge:gold, silver or bronze oval openwork plaque, 31 x 18 mm, depicting a stadium running track with the letters "WSOF" below. In the center there are three arrowheads pointing left. In the highest class they are enameled white, green and red respectively. The reverse has a mounting screw. The badge is worn on the right chest pocket flap.
1.ObverseInstituted by regulation of Minister of the Interior of July 4, 2000. Conferred to those policemen who have proven excellent output during fitness competitions and tests. On the police uniform the badge is worn on the right chest pocket.
Badge: oval, 15 x 27 mm, of oxidized silver metal. In the upper part there is a red rectangle showing the figure of the ancient discobolus. below on the background of blue enamel the characters PO / SF are displayed. In the lower part there is a police star with a blue scroll upon it. The whole is surrounded by an oak garland.