Poland Sets Its Sights on the 2040 Olympics: A Transformational National Project Takes Shape

Poland has taken its first decisive step toward one of the most ambitious goals in its modern sporting history: hosting the 2040 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sports Minister Jakub Rutnicki announced that the government has begun preparing an official bid, placing Warsaw at the heart of a national strategy designed not just to compete for the Games, but to reshape the future of Polish sport.

Unveiled at Warsaw’s National Stadium, the announcement marks the most significant sporting initiative since Poland co-hosted UEFA Euro 2012. The launch event gathered key figures from government, local authorities and the sporting community, including Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, IOC member Maja Włoszczowska, Deputy Sports Minister Piotr Borys, and four-time Olympic champion Robert Korzeniowski.

But Rutnicki made one point clear: Poland’s Olympic ambition is not simply about winning a bid, it is about fundamentally modernising the country’s sporting ecosystem over the next two decades.

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A Long-Term Vision: The Olympics as the Culmination of National Sporting Reform

At the centre of Poland’s Olympic plan is the Polish Sports Development Strategy 2040, a long-term blueprint to strengthen grassroots sport, expand infrastructure, and encourage higher levels of physical activity nationwide.

Rutnicki emphasised that the Games should serve as the final result of a deep structural transformation, not the starting point.
“The Olympics must be the crowning achievement of change, not the beginning of it,” he said, stressing that Poland’s bid aligns with broader goals for participation, performance, and professionalisation in Polish sport.

The minister’s message was clear: hosting the Olympics must be a national, cross-party project, supported jointly by the government, regional authorities, federations, and private partners. Without unity, Poland cannot hope to compete against global contenders.

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Warsaw Takes Centre Stage , A City Reborn and Ready for the World

As the proposed host city, Warsaw carries both symbolic and practical weight. Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski framed the opportunity within Poland’s broader historical narrative, reminding attendees that Warsaw was almost erased during World War II.

“In the 1940s, Warsaw was not meant to exist. Today, we are discussing whether it could host the Olympic Games in the 2040s,” he declared.
“We rose from the ruins like a phoenix. We are a modern, dynamic metropolis — and we have no intention of slowing down.”

Trzaskowski stressed that an Olympic project would accelerate economic and infrastructural development far beyond sport, describing it as an “economic flywheel” for the entire country. Major investments in housing, transport, training facilities and public infrastructure would leave decades of lasting benefit.

He also highlighted 2044 as an alternative date that would coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, giving the Games a powerful historic resonance.

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A Decentralised Olympic Concept Inspired by Paris 2024

While Warsaw would lead the bid, Poland’s proposal envisions a multi-city model similar to Paris 2024. Deputy Minister Borys confirmed that several urban centres would share hosting responsibilities, with cities such as:

• Gdańsk

• Poznań

• Rzeszów

• Wrocław

• Kraków

expected to serve as competition venues or training hubs.

This decentralised approach supports two goals:

1. Maximising the use of existing infrastructure to reduce costs

2. Distributing economic benefits across regions, not only the capital

Such a model also positions Poland as a sustainable, financially responsible bidder, a key criterion for the modern IOC.

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The Economic and Sporting Challenge: A $24 Billion Investment Plan

The scale of the proposed transformation is immense. Government documents outline a programme worth around $24 billion (€20.7 billion), including:

• Upgraded and newly built sporting venues

• Hiring 1,500 additional professional coaches

• A new four-year funding system for sports federations

• Infrastructure upgrades in transport, logistics and public services

These investments aim to elevate Polish athletes to world-class competitiveness. The motivation is clear: at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Poland achieved only one gold medal, finishing 42nd, its lowest ranking since 1956.

The 2040 strategy aims to reverse this decline by improving training conditions, creating elite pathways, and encouraging broader public participation in sport.

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Strong Political and Sporting Support for the Bid

Prime Minister Donald Tusk publicly endorsed the initiative, describing the goal as “entirely realistic”. He pointed to Euro 2012 as proof that Poland can successfully handle large-scale international events.

Former athletes share this confidence. IOC representative and two-time Olympic silver medallist Maja Włoszczowska urged unity behind the bid, stressing that the Games must deliver a national legacy, especially by reviving everyday participation in physical activity.

“The Olympics must be the icing on the cake of a broad national project,” she said.

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A Long Road to the Finish Line. But a Powerful Story Behind the Bid

The International Olympic Committee has not yet opened the formal bidding process. Poland plans to submit its application by 2026, aligning with the completion of the Sports Development Strategy and the beginning of official talks with the IOC.

Competition is expected to be fierce. Countries such as Germany, India, Qatar and Egypt have already expressed interest in hosting the 2040 or 2044 Games.

Yet Poland believes it has something unique:

• A compelling historical narrative of rebirth and resilience

• Strong political will

• A decentralised, modern concept

• Long-term national planning instead of short-term ambition

Together, these elements form the foundation for a bid that reflects not just national pride, but a strategic vision for the future.

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Conclusion: The 2040 Olympics Could Redefine Polish Sport and Polish Identity

Poland’s movement toward a 2040 Olympic bid signals far more than a desire to host the world's biggest sporting event. It is a declaration of intent , to revitalise sport from the ground up, to modernise infrastructure, to build healthier communities, and to present a new face of Poland to the world.

If successful, the Games could mark a turning point for the country, creating:

• A stronger sporting culture

• World-class coaching and facilities

• International recognition

• Economic momentum across regions

• A long-term legacy for future generations

The coming years will determine whether Poland can turn vision into reality. But the first step has been taken and the ambition is unmistakably bold.