In July of 2023, the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame (NPASHF) was privileged to be a part of the inaugural Avenue of Stars of Polonia Athletes in Rzeszow. Poland. NPASHF inductees Ann Meyers Drysdale and Bob Brudzinski were honored with bronze castings of their hands in the Walk of Fame.
For the second time, commemorative plaques will be unveiled in the Avenue of Stars of Polonia Athletes in Rzeszow. There will be no shortage of special guests, attractions for participants and exceptional artistic performances. The city of Rzeszow is the perfect venue for these amazing events.
In September, the honorees will be:
– Doug Beal: former American volleyball player and national team coach, 1984 Olympic Champion, former and current Honorary President of the US Volleyball Federation. Selected by the FIVB as the coach of the 20th century. Hall of Fame member.
– Jan Such: Polish volleyball player, four-time Polish Champion, Polish Cup winner. He led PLS teams – Resovia Rzeszów, Jastrzębski Węgiel, Jadar Radom and teams in France – with great success. He coached the Swiss national team and the Polish junior national team.
– Zdzislaw Myrda: Polish coach and basketball player, national representative, Olympian. Graduate of the Warsaw University of Physical Education. On the national team he played 139 games and scored 1261 points. He appeared at the 1980 Summer Olympics. Winner of the Polish Cup and Polish Championship with Resovia Rzeszów. Selected player of the year in Poland 1975. Honorary Sportsman of the Podkarpacie region in 1987.
The event will be held on September 14, 2024 at 1:00 pm in the Park of Unity of Polonia with the Motherland in Rzeszów
What is the project?
Combination of sports traditions with modernity. The Alley of Stars Foundation conducts promotional and educational activities throughout Poland, bringing closer the profiles of famous athletes of Polish descent successful both in Poland and abroad. The project envisages expanding the cooperation of the Avenue of Stars Foundation and the City of Rzeszow, with Polish-American organizations in the United States and Canada (with particular emphasis on the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Polish Congress) and in prospect in other countries.
“We are extremely pleased with the success of last year’s project launch in my hometown of Rzeszow. We have done a lot of work ahead of the upcoming event to make both the honored athletes and residents feel proud that things worthy of their attention are happening here. We also want the residents of other cities in Poland and abroad to visit both the Avenue and Rzeszow.” -Sportnet Foundation President Adela Grzyb says.
The Avenue of Stars project is organized by the Sportnet Foundation. This year’s edition is supported by the Main Partner – the city of Rzeszow as well as private partners: Energia Polska, Makarony Polskie, Handlopex, Hilton Garden Inn Rzeszów, Kempa, Uhlsport.
This event is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the accomplishments of athletes of Polish heritage and to educate the Poland and world community of their accomplishments.
If you would like to find out more or support this event, please contact Adela Grzyb
( fundacja.sportnet@gmail.com )
David Jansen
