Editor's Note: These are courtesy translations of local news provided by the U.S. Army Garrison Poland Public Affairs team for the benefit the military community stationed here. Views or opinions are not endorsed by USAG Poland or the U.S. Army.
Thousands of participants ran in the Wings for Life World Run
On Sunday, May 10th, another edition of the charity Wings for Life World Run took place. Approximately 8,000 participants took part in the event in Poznań, and over 300,000 people ran worldwide. Funds from the entry fees will be donated to research into the treatment of spinal cord injuries.
This year's edition once again attracted thousands of runners to the capital of Greater Poland. The Wings for Life World Run is held simultaneously in multiple locations around the world, and all proceeds from entry fees go towards research into the treatment of spinal cord injuries. This year, thanks to participants, over €9 million was raised.
The Poznań event saw some excellent results. Dariusz Nożyński ran 67.95 km, placing him second in the world standings. Monika Brzozowska emerged victorious in the women's race with a distance of 52.06 km.
Poznań has been the only city in Poland to host a stationary version of the race since 2014. The first edition attracted 1,156 participants, and in subsequent years, the number of participants steadily increased. In 2019, 7,400 people took part. After a break caused by the pandemic, attendance again approached 8,000 participants and remains at that level to this day. The starting list fills up very quickly.
The race began at the Poznań International Fair. A distinctive element of the event is a chase car, which sets off after the runners 30 minutes after the start. Participants finish the race when the car overtakes them, and then return to the fairgrounds by public transport.
Kejtrowka and "Flying Dogs" again at the Citadel
Demonstrations, lectures, and advice from behaviorists are just some of the events planned for the Kejtrówka Educational Picnic. As every year, the event will also feature a "Flying Dogs" competition. These attractions await Poznań residents at the Citadel on the weekend of May 16th and 17th. Admission is free.
Kejtrówka is a two-day picnic organized by the City as part of the "Kejter is also Poznań" program. The event aims to raise awareness among residents who own dogs or are planning to acquire them. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the responsibilities of responsible dog owners, including vaccinations, microchipping, and cleaning up after their pets.
"We invite all residents, especially dog lovers. Over the course of two days, you'll be able to listen to engaging lectures, talk with experts about pet care, and see many fascinating shows. The "Flying Dogs" Frisbee competition will certainly be a highlight. It's not just a spectacular fetch, but a sport that's gaining a growing number of fans," encourages Patryk Pawełczak, director of the Mayor's Office at Poznań City Hall.
This year's event will take place on May 16 and 17 in the clearing beneath the Peace Bell at the Citadel. Attractions await residents from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The event also promotes responsible animal adoption. A special information point for the Poznań animal shelter will be set up on Kejtrówka Street.
"We will encourage people to update the registration details of Poznań's Catterpillars and their owners. We will also highlight the importance of thoughtful adoption – we will discuss the entire process and how to prepare your home for a new tenant," explains Katarzyna Frąckowiak, deputy manager of the Poznań Animal Shelter. "You will be able to meet dogs available for adoption at our stand. We will also be visited by former residents who have already found new homes," she adds.
Numerous animal-friendly foundations will also promote responsible adoption during the picnic.
At the municipal police stand, officers will provide information on issues such as the rules for using park areas, runs, and cleaning up after your dog.
The event will feature demonstrations of skills by police dogs, herding dogs, guide dogs, and rescue dogs. There will also be performances by four-legged athletes representing disciplines such as bikejoring, canicross, scootering, flyball, obedience, dog frisbee, dog dancing, noseworking, and dog fitness.
Attendees will also be able to enjoy numerous lectures, behavioral, and canine advice. You'll learn things like what to keep in mind before purchasing a pet from a breeder or when traveling with your pet; how to ensure your pet returns on command; how to report a welfare threat; and why your dog pulls on walks and is constantly hungry. Experts will also discuss what's going on in a dog's coat, oral hygiene, the child-pet relationship, and how a dog's diet changes depending on its age.
The event will feature numerous quizzes and competitions. Regular advice points will also be available, including veterinary, behavioral, and cynological advice, among others. A photo booth will be available for free photo sessions with your pet. The City of Poznań stand will be handing out pet care guides and waste disposal bags.
For the youngest, the organizers have prepared a children's zone with activities, games, contests, face painting, and henna tattoos with dog motifs. There will also be a toddler area (with blocks and toys, etc.), a large-scale game, and a racetrack. During art workshops, participants will have the opportunity to make a jar for dog treats, a coaster, or a bookmark.
The four-legged creatures will fly over the Citadel again
On the weekend of May 16-17, the Citadel will once again become a sports center, thanks to the 41st edition of the Flying Dogs competition – one of the most spectacular cynological events in Poland.
Competitors and spectators can expect exciting dog frisbee competitions, including USDDN Super Open Freestyle, USDDN Super-Pro Toss & Fetch, as well as UpDog competitions: Freestyle, ThrowNGo, Frizgility, TimeWarp, and the spectacular Far Out. Teams from Poland and abroad will participate, and the level of competition promises to be as high as ever (Polish competitors have been successful internationally for years).
As the competition organizers emphasize, this unique event has been combining sporting excitement, an active lifestyle, and the extraordinary relationship between humans and dogs for years, attracting thousands of participants and spectators across the country.
"This year, the Poznań competition is a qualifier for the Frisbee World Championships, which take place in the Czech Republic this fall. We're counting on a lot of excitement. We already have over 100 dogs and their owners registered. As always, we'll be holding both freestyle competitions , the most spectacular ones, and distance and technical competitions. The competition will take place from the morning until 6-7 p.m., but the most spectacular shows are scheduled for 2-3 p.m. We invite you to cheer them on. Our sporting dogs love applause and cheering, so the audience is welcome," says Paula Gumińska, a representative of the "Flying Dogs" competition organizer.
As part of Kejtrówka, there will be booths at the event site: dogfrisbee.pl, chudelata.pl, and mymiuapamidesign, where you can learn more about the sport and useful equipment. The main sponsor of the competition is Calibra Poland (a manufacturer and retailer of dog food).
More information about the event can be found on the competition website . Participants can register via the form .
PROTEGA 2026 in Poznań
On May 20-21, the Poznań International Fair will host the PROTEGA trade fair, one of the most important events in Poland dedicated to population protection and civil defense. This year's edition will bring together representatives of government, services, and experts.
"PROTEGA is an important element of the system for building a resilient and safe city. This expert voice is very important to us and informs the city's decisions regarding the direction of investment in security in Poznań," says Marcin Gołek, Deputy Mayor of Poznań.
The fair focuses on key security challenges, including the effects of climate change, natural disasters, chemical and ecological threats, as well as construction and transportation disasters. Issues related to civil protection and the functioning of crisis response systems are a key element of the program.
The event brings together a wide range of experts, representatives of public administration, emergency services, and the scientific community. Representatives of the State Fire Service and organizations working in the fields of security and humanitarian aid are involved in the program.
Security solutions
The fair will showcase technologies and solutions that support the security and resilience of the state and local governments. These include modular emergency kits, systems providing access to water, energy, and shelter, as well as specialized protective infrastructure.
Manufacturers of shelters and protective structures, power generators, ICT systems, and modern technologies, including solutions using unmanned aerial vehicles, will be present. Suppliers of equipment and supplies for emergency services will also present their products.
Accompanying events
The fair program includes not only an exhibition section but also practical and expert events. One of the key events will be the 3rd Shelter Technology Workshop SCHRONTECH 2026, prepared in collaboration with specialists in the field of protective construction. These meetings will focus on issues related to the design, modernization, and operation of collective protection facilities.
Demonstrations and simulations of rescue operations are also planned, including a reenacted mass evacuation, as well as presentations of equipment used by the services. Humanitarian aid organizations will participate in the event, presenting principles of crisis response.
An additional element of the program will be training for residents, including first aid, home safety, and procedures for dealing with emergency situations.
Exchange of experiences and solutions
The PROTEGA trade fair provides a platform for cooperation between public administration, services, and the expert community. The event facilitates the exchange of experiences and the presentation of solutions that can be implemented in practice – both at the national and local levels.
The prestige of the event is underscored by numerous institutional patronages, including those of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, the Voivode of Wielkopolska, and institutions responsible for security and crisis management.
Detailed information is available on the event website .
Over 2,000 people visited the Poznań cinema over the weekend
The 23rd edition of Millennium Docs starts at Kino Muza on Friday.
" Over 2,000 viewers visited Kino Muza during the first weekend of the 23rd MDAG | Poznań! It's great that you're here - and let's keep it up!" - representatives of the Poznań cinema inform on social media.
As a reminder, the ten-day festival in Poznań will feature 59 documentaries from around the world, presented in 137 screenings. The program also includes Q&As with the filmmakers and a competition for the Freedom Award, funded by the City of Poznań. This year's edition is themed "Searching" and explores social, ecological, political, and economic themes.
"Together with the festival team, filmmakers and audiences are also embarking on a different quest – for mutual understanding and shared values in times of polarization and uncertainty. We are searching for solutions to the problems we perceive in reality – geopolitical, ecological, social, and economic. Films don't change the world, but they provide a fresh perspective and encourage action. We believe that people who watch them often change reality, " says Mateusz Góra, head of communications at MDAG.
The Freedom Award, funded by the City of Poznań, will be awarded for the sixth time as part of the festival. "The award will go to the creator of a film from the Main Competition that specifically addresses the theme of freedom, human rights, and the dignity of all living beings. The winner will receive a prize of €3,000," city officials announced.
Twelve films were selected for this year's competition. The winner will be announced and the Freedom Award will be presented on May 14th at 8:00 PM at the Muza Cinema. The festival will run until May 17th.
All details can be found on the event website.
New swimming pool in Poznań
The last weekend of May will be the first weekend of operation of the Grunwald Swimming Pool on Taborowa Street. The facility is currently being prepared for guest service.
"As announced, the first volunteers will be able to jump into the water in the new pools in May. We know how eagerly residents of western Poznań have been waiting for this good news. This type of facility, close to home, is an opportunity for regular physical activity. It can also bring together all generations as an ideal space for children to learn to swim, as well as for classes for seniors. We are also responding to trends, recognizing the popularity of saunas, and this summer we will open a unique space in this building, which will have a separate entrance. It will be a sauna with a wide range of health-related options," says Marcin Gołek, Deputy Mayor of Poznań.
The main attractions are located in the main hall with natural lighting. There is a sports pool (25 x 16 m, 8 lanes) and a smaller recreational and learning pool (two 5 x 9 m pools). The facility also includes a jacuzzi.
"All water systems are functioning properly, as we verified during commissioning. The facility also has an occupancy permit and has passed all acceptance procedures. The crew who will manage it are now familiarizing themselves with the new location. They will be using modern equipment and solutions. Among them, the eco-friendly system for recovering water from filter backwash deserves special attention. After professional treatment, the water will be used to refill the overflow tanks," says Justyna Litka, CEO of Poznańskie Inwestycje Miejskie.
The swimming pool will be hosted by the Poznań Sports and Recreation Centers. Training will soon be held for WOPR staff and lifeguards, who will familiarize themselves with the facility.
The opening weekend will feature a water obstacle course, a pool party, lifesaving demonstrations, and children's entertainment. The full program will be published by POSiR.
The pool will be open throughout the summer, hosting the Summer Swimming Academy during the summer holidays, and swimming lessons will begin after the season. The facility will be available for both individual and organized lessons (registration opens in June).
"Thanks to the soundproofing system, the pool hall also boasts excellent acoustics. In addition to the pools, the building also houses fitness and rehabilitation rooms, a steam room, and a Finnish sauna. Users will have access to changing rooms, showers, and restrooms. A play area for small children and a room for breastfeeding mothers have also been planned. The facility's administration, instructors, trainers, and medical staff will have their own spaces. Storage and utility rooms for the technical infrastructure will complement the space," PIM representatives inform.
The modern swimming pool is fully accessible to people with disabilities. It is equipped with features such as texture markings, typhlographic plans, Braille signs, totupoints, and induction loops. Adapted changing rooms and restrooms are also available. The facility also features steps with a handrail to the pool and a seat for easy entry into the water.
A rainwater retention tank was installed next to the building, and photovoltaic panels were installed on the roof. The area around the swimming pool has been appropriately landscaped, with sidewalks, parking spaces, and new greenery.
"Similar swimming pools have already been built in the Piastowski Housing Estate in Rataje and in the Zwycięstwa Housing Estate in Winogrady. The facility on Taborowa Street will feature an additional attraction – a sauna. It is being built in the same building, but with a separate entrance, which is possible thanks to the change of function of the underground part of the swimming pool building. Finishing works in this part will last until the summer, but will not affect the operation of the main pool hall," the release added.
The investment was co-financed by the Polish Deal Government Fund: Strategic Investment Program.
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