The little town Polish town of G─àsawa has witnessed a great ceremony on 1 May 2010, when a new pitch was officially opened. FIH President Leandro Negre and EHF Vice-President Jorge Alcover attended the ceremony.
Gąsawa is a small town in the Paluki region and is a very bright spot on the Polish hockey map. For many years Gąsawa teams were playing on a natural grass pitch. When in 1992 first artificial turf was constructed in Poznań, Gąsawa authorities started to dream about building their own pitch. In 2005 the first small multisport turf has been laid next to the one of the Gąsawa schools and since then every year they were able to provide one more school with a multisport pitch. But the town was still waiting for its full size hockey pitch.
In November 2008 Leandro Negre has visited Poland as EHF President and together with Mr Andrzej Grzelak, Polish Hockey Association President they met with Gasawa Mayor Mr Zdzisław Kuczma. The Mayor has presented the project of the new turf. Both Presidents have showed full support for project of building new hockey pitch in Gąsawa. The Marshal promised his support and in the begining of 2009 there was a decision made about grant for Gąsawa up to 30% of the total costs of investment. The rest of the amount was given by Polish Ministry of Sport and in September 2009 a tender has been concluded and work has started.
At the end of April 2010 the pitch has been finished and on 1 May the Official Opening Ceremony took place. The most important guests were FIH President Leandro Negre and EHF Vice-President Jorge Alcover. The Ceremony was attended by more than 1000 people who witnessed the official part and also the friendly game of the Polish National Team against local club LKS G─àsawa - supported by players that originated their careers in G─àsawa.
Source: PZHT
