The White House announced on Friday that Poland has been formally nominated for entry into the US Visa Waiver Program, under which Poles can enter the United States for the purposes of tourism and business for up to 90 days without a visa. 38 countries are currently eligible for the program, including 23 countries in the EU. Only Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Cyprus are still not eligible due to a high percentage of applicants – over 3% – who have had their visas rejected. Poland only recently dropped below this threshold and thus became eligible for the program.

As Michał Woś of the Council of Ministers pointed out, inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program is based on the formal criteria of low visa rejection rates along with the informal criteria of political cooperation. In Friday’s press release, the White House emphasized that, “the bilateral relationship between the United States and Poland has never been stronger, and this would serve as a remarkable accomplishment for both countries.”

The US Department of Homeland Security will now reportedly take necessary action to assess and facilitate Poland’s entry into the program as soon as possible.

Source: PAP, whitehouse.gov

Straight off their historic third-place finish at the EuroVolley tournament last month, the Polish men’s volleyball team is on track to make history again at the Volleyball World Cup in Japan.

Even without captain Michał Kubiak, the Poles smashed their Italian rivals last night in three straight sets. Their loss to the Americans last week put them in second place behind Brazil, a position they hope to improve when they face off against fourth-ranked Russia Wednesday at 8:00 Polish time.

At the 17th edition of the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Konrad Bukowiecki took sixth place in an intensely competitive shot put competition.

Bukowiecki, who hails from the province of Warmia-Mazury, previously won gold in the shot put event at the European U23 Championships in July. His personal best of 23.17 meters in the Youth Olympic games in Japan in 2014 would have been more than enough to defeat the first place winner in Doha, American Joe Kovacs (22.91). Bukowiecki’s teammates, including Polish national shot put record-holder Michał Haratyk, unfortunately didn’t make it through the qualifying rounds.

The World Athletics Championships will wrap up today with Poles competing for medals in the men’s 1500 meter race, men’s Javelin Throw, and the women’s 4×400 Relay. Events will begin today at 18:00 Polish time with Karolina Kołeczek in the semi-finals of the women’s 100-meter hurdles.

Source: PAP

Those traveling through Gdynia this weekend may have been surprised to hear live music being performed in the main train station.

The concerts are part of the 22nd annual Gdynia Classica Nova Festival featuring the works of Mozart and taking place at various venues throughout Gdynia.

From now until the 20th of October, participants can experience a range of symphonies, piano concertos, arias, duets, masses, overtures, serenades, and other divertimento by the famous classical composer, including the legendary Requiem in D Minor.

The program will officially launch this evening at 17:00 with an inaugural concert at the Municipal Theater of Witold Gombrowicz in Gdynia.

For more information on the Gdynia Classical Mozart program, visit https://gcn.gdynia.pl/

RGEN