Sport in the Activity of the Folk Sports Teams Province Association in Katowice in the Years 1952–1975

Abstract

The aim of this study is to present sport in the activity of the Folk Sports Teams Province Association in Katowice in the years 1952–1975. The first units of Folk Sports Teams in the Upper Silesia territory and in the area of the Dąbrowa Coal Basin were established in 1946. During the time of its activity, the Folk Sports Teams Province Association could enjoy an increasing number of its units and members. It was especially true about the activity of District (local government unit) Councils of the Association in Będzin, Cieszyn, Kłobuck, Rybnik, Tarnowskie Góry. Once the number of units and members had grown, sports infrastructure developed as well, and there was a bigger number of training personnel, i.e. sports coaches, instructors, and sports sections. The sports activity focused to a great extent on the organization of mass events, among all, in the following disciplines: athletics, football, handball, volleyball, chess, table tennis and draughts. The contestants of the Folk Sports Teams Province Association in Katowice would achieve state and international success especially in such disciplines as sports acrobatics, cycling, tobogganing, skiing.