Gdynia Maritime University GMU

On 23 May 2024, Gdynia Maritime University officially opened its new Sports and Recreation Centre. Taking part in the event were many guests from the worlds of science, sport, economy, and politics.

The modern Sports and Recreation Centre has been built on the site of the previous sports hall, which was demolished in 2020. Due to the poor technical condition and high maintenance costs of the facility, upgrading the hall proved too costly and was not recommended. The University's authorities decided to invest in a new facility whose development was in line with the University's strategic goals concerning its teaching, science and research, and social infrastructure. The newly developed building is the first phase of the development of a sports and student accommodation complex planned for this area of the University campus.

The official part of the opening ceremony took place at the entrance of the building, where the cutting of a red ribbon was presided over by the University's authorities and representatives of the national government. Guests then entered the building where the ceremony continued in the Centre's sports hall.

The opening ceremony was led by HM The Rector of GMU, Professor Adam Weintrit, who, after welcoming the guests, informed them that:

The final decision to build the Sports and Recreation Centre was made on 2 August 2022, and the project was completed less than two years later [...]. It was agreed that the official opening of the facility should take place during GMU Sports Day - an initiative that was put in place by the University's previous Rector Professor Janusz Zarębski.

The Rector also highlighted the facilities available at the new Sports and Recreation Centre:

A well-equipped gym with a cardio and fitness area, as well as saunas and a hall, where three games of various disciplines can be played simultaneously. [...] Conference rooms, guest rooms and an underground parking garage are also available.

The Rector also added:

I believe that thanks to this facility, our students will be able to compete with universities from all over the country and win medals.

He also thanked those individuals who were particularly involved in the development of the facility: The Chancellor of the University, Filip Malata; the Director of the Sports and Recreation Centre, Dr Andrzej Lachowicz; and general building company Budimex S.A. The Rector extended Personal thanks for the financial support of the project and other GMU investments to the Director of the Department of Maritime Education in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Wojciech Gąsowski. The Rector also said:

I hope that during my new term of office, a new student residence will be built and that we will develop the areas around the student residence, as well as the newly opened Sports and Recreation Centre.

HM The Rector encouraged guests to take a look around the facility and to stay to watch the events of the third and final day of the GMU Sports Day.

The Director of the Maritime Education Department of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Wojciech Gąsowski, read a letter from Dr Arkadiusz Marchewka, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure:

The opening of the Sports and Recreation at Gdynia Maritime University will bring many benefits to the entire academic community, increase the attractiveness of the various activities carried out by the University community, and improve the comfort of classes, while contributing to the development of physical culture, among students, doctoral candidates, and University staff. I hope that this modern [...] facility will be another reason to encourage the subsequent generations of young seafarers to take up education at Gdynia Maritime University.   

Next to speak was the Deputy Marshall for Pomerania, Emil Rojek:

I am extremely pleased that Gdynia Maritime University continues to grow rapidly, continually improves the quality of the education it offers and invests in its infrastructure; that GMU graduates go out into the world and sail the seas and oceans under all flags.

Also taking to the floor was the Director of the Sports and Recreation Centre, Dr Andrzej Lachowicz, who expressed his thanks to HM The Rector of Gdynia Maritime University, Professor Adam Weintrit, and the Chancellor of GMU, Filip Malata, and his staff.

I would like to thank the Rector for the decision to build the GMU Sports and Recreation Centre and for contining to support this decision [...]. I'd also like to thank the Chancellor, Filip Malata, and his staff, especially Małgorzata Bielska and Artur Nowak, thanks to their continual cooperation we have a sports hall that is tailormade to the University, and for daily physical training. [...] I'd also like to thank the staff of the Sports and Recreation Centre, in particular Joanna Piotrowska and Kamila Chilińska-Gonisławska, who have been, and are still, especially involved in work in connection with the facility.

Also saying a few words was the Chancellor of Gdynia Maritime University, Filip Malata, who thanked the Rector for his trust in the investment project, which was carried out alongside the project for the development of the GMU Centre for the Offshore Industry, and therefore presented an enormous challenge. Words of gratitude were also expressed by the University's Bursar, Eugeniusz Paweł Orzeszek, who thanked the Director of the Sports and Recreation Centre, Dr Andrzej Lachowicz, for his contribution. He also thanked individual Department staff, including from the Technical, Economic, and Public Procurement Departments, the Legal Services Office, the University Council, and University Senators. 

The official part of the event came to a close with a photograph of all those in attendance at the opening ceremony.

Many people made use of the opportunity to take a look around the newly opened GMU Sports and Recreation Centre and get a closer look at the well-equipped gym and the modern solutions used both in the sports hall and the conference area. Guests were also able to visit the accommodation section of the Centre. The complex's accommodation will be open to guests from outside, and will certainly be used by athletes and training personnel participating in competitions held in the University sports hall.

The investment was financed by a Ministry of Infrastructure grant and the University's own funds.

The GMU Sports and Recreation Centre in Numbers:

• Full cost of the investment: approx. 60m PLN, 
• Area of the building: 2192,44 m2
• Cubic capacity: 38 460,21 m3
• Total area of the site: 9 491.87 m2
• Height of the building: 17,0 m
• Number of floors 4
• Number of underground floor  1