By Jaroslaw Adamowski
March 28 – Municipal authorities of Bialystok have signed a deal with local football club Jagiellonia to promote the Polish city and support its efforts to combat racism and intolerance. Under the deal, Bialystok will provide PLN 3.5 million (€830,000) to Jagiellonia in an arrangement taking them through to December 15.
The latest deal is part of the city’s strategy to prevent racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance for the years 2014 to 2017. The footballers will be involved in a wide range of events and activities to raise awareness of local youth on ways to combat racism, according to the statement.
“By the end of the year, Jagiellonia will host 12 such events, some of them in cooperation with the city’s promotion office and non-governmental organisations,” Agnieszka Syczewska, a spokesperson for Jagiellonia, told local news agency PAP.
The initiative to launch the Bialystok for tolerance programme was formulated last year after a racist attack against a mixed Polish-Hindu marriage from the Polish city brought the issue of racism in Bialystok to the attention of local media.
The city’s logo will also be included on the squad’s shirts, banners at the club’s stadium and various advertising materials, according to Jagiellonia.
“We feel great pride and satisfaction from the fact that Jagiellonia Bialystok will be promoting our city. We are persuaded that the deal will be beneficial to both sides,” the club said.
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