The University Athletics Centre (UAC) was officially opened on November 4, 2021. We are pleased that the joint effort of many people has led to the realisation of that great project.

“It is a great day for our university, our city and probably also for Polish sport in general. We are opening a sports hall, which is to accomplish three tasks. This facility allows the professional sport to go hand in hand with scientific research, which is of great value. The third key word here is high-quality education, supported by examples of sports masters”- said Prof. dr hab. Sylwester Czopek, Rector of the University of Rzeszów

Dr hab. inż. Krzysztof Przednowek, prof UR - the Director of UAC - emphasized that “it is an elite place, meeting the highest world standards. Here, sportsmen at various levels, from children and adolescents to professional athletes, will take their opportunity to brush up their skills. It is also a professional research centre with gold standard equipment.”

One of the initiators of UAC, prof. dr hab. Wojciech Czarny, the Head of the Institute of Physical Culture Sciences, stressed the scientific dimension of the facility. He listed the professional laboratories located at the Centre that enable not only research in sports, but also can lead to an increase in the effectiveness of training.

Minister Anna Krupka also expressed her admiration, saying: "I am glad that we can open sports infrastructure that will use the Polish athletics potential, sports talents and that we will train more efficiently and effectively. I hope that this Centre will enable us to win even more medals in athletics in the Olympic Games in Paris than in Tokyo. "

Representatives of the local government and self-government authorities expressed similar opinions.

The ceremony was attended by many representatives of the world of science, sports, and politics who supported the project almost from its very beginnings. Among the participants there were:

• Anna Krupka – secretary of state in the Ministry of Sport and Tourism
• Krystyna Skowrońska – Member of the Polish Parliament
• dr Ewa Leniart – Voivode of the Podkarpackie Province
• Jacek Kitliński – General Director of the Prison Service
• Stanisław Kruczek – Member of the Board of the Podkarpackie Province
• Stanisław Fundakowski – Deputy Curator of Education of the Podkarpackie Province
• Krystyna Stachowska – Deputy Mayor of the City of Rzeszów
• His Excellency Bishop Kazimierz Górny – Senior Bishop of the Rzeszów Diocese,
• dr hab. inż. Piotr Koszelnik - Rector of Rzeszów University of Technology
• dr hab. Zbigniew Barabasz, prof. KPU - Rector of the Carpathian State University in Krosno
• dr hab. Paweł Skrzydlewski, prof. PWSZ in Chełm - Rector of the Zamoyski Academy
• dr hab. Paweł Grata – Vice-Rector for the College of Humanities, University of Rzeszow
• dr hab. Edyta Barnaś, prof. UR – Dean of the College of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszow
• dr hab. Adam Reich – Director of the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszow
• dr hab. Alexander Bobko
• dr hab. Czesław Puchalski
• dr hab. Józef Cebulski, prof. UR
• Marzena Filipek – Bursar of the University of Rzeszow
• Barbara Oskroba – Chancellor of the University of Rzeszow
• Andrzej Dec – Chairman of Rzeszów City Council
• Krystyna Wróblewska – Director of the Podkarpackie Teacher Education Centre
• Marcin Stopa – Secretary of Rzeszów City Council
• Mieczysław Janowski - former Senator and former Mayor of the City of Rzeszów
• Michał Jędrzejewski – the architect of UAC
• Rafał Kaczmarczyk – the construction manager of UAC from BAUDziedzic company
• Henryk Olszewski – President of the Polish Athletics Association
• Tomasz Majewski – Vice President for Organizational and International Affairs of the Polish Athletics Association,
• Krzysztof Kęcki – Sports Director of the Polish Athletics Association (the head of training)
• Zbigniew Polakowski – Vice President for athletics facilities and investments of the Polish Athletics Association
• Mateusz Błachowicz – President of the Podkarpackie Sports Federation,
• Michał Tittinger – President of the Podkarpackie Regional Athletics Association
• Janusz Mazur – former President of the Podkarpackie Regional Athletics Association,
• Stanisław Zioło – Vice-president for sports in the Podkarpackie Regional Athletics Association,
• Krzysztof Sugier – Vice-president for organizational matters of the Podkarpackie Regional Athletics Association,
• Ryszard Kądziołka – Chairman of the Provincial College of Judges,
• Paweł Janusz – President of the Polish Traditional Karate Union,
• Mirosław Minkina – President of the Polish Ice Hockey Association,
• Józef Baściuk – President of the Polish Archery Association,
• Stephane Antiga with his training staff of Developres Rzeszów,
• dr Rafał Wilk – a speedway rider, the three-time Paralympic champion,
• dr Marta Niewczas – the six-time world champion in traditional karate,
• Łukasz Różański - the current professional Polish champion in boxing with his coach Marian Basiak,
• dr Janusz Zieliński – President of Academic Sports Association, branch in Rzeszów,
• mgr inż. Damian Liśkiewicz – President of Academic Sports Association  at The University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów,
• dr Maciej Huzarski – President of Academic Sports Association  at the University of Rzeszów,
• dr Miłosz Szczudło – Head of the  Sports Centre at the University of Rzeszów,
• Wojciech Wilk – Headmaster of the Sports School Complex in Rzeszów,
• Ewelina Greszczuk-Sokół - Headmaster of STAL Rzeszów Sports Championship School

The University Athletics Centre is the project carried out by the University of Rzeszów thanks to co-financing from the Ministry of Sport and Tourism (Physical Culture Development Fund) and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The total value of the project is PLN 51,818,310.00, of which the amount financed by the Ministries is PLN 48,325,200.00.

University Athletics Centre includes:

1. Athletics hall with full equipment
2. Laboratory of Biomechanics of the Athlete's Movement
3. Laboratory of Physiology and Biochemistry of Physical Exercise
4. Massage and biological regeneration rooms

UAC consists of:

- a 200-meter 6-lane oval running track,

- a 60-meter 8-lane straight running track,

- a pole vault runway,

- a long jump and triple jump track,

- a throwing circle for shot put,

- a javelin runway,

- two mobile high jump landing systems,

- an 80-meter warm-up track,

-an auditorium for 300 people.

The University Athletics Centre, by using the scientific potential of the University of Rzeszów, creates new training opportunities in the field of athletics disciplines and provides an opportunity to host national and international competitions. The centre will also be used for training purposes, integrating all athletics sections of Podkarpacie and the Carpathian Region, and it will be also open to the local community.

The hall has been designed as a modern facility, guaranteeing the right standard of use, in accordance with the international guidelines and standards, and is an example of high-quality architecture.

UAC is not the last word in the history of the development of the academic sports in Rzeszów. The next step planned is an expansion of the professional research and sports infrastructure of the University of Rzeszów.

Up-to-date information on UAC available at FB profile - https: //www.facebook.com/Uni UniwersytetCentrumLekkoatletyczne/

Photographs - Michał Święcicki / UR