events in 2005

Between 13-16.01.05 a Kiel delegation visited Gdynia. The delegation was headed by the Chairman of Kiel City Council, Mr. Arne Wulff. The main objective of the visit was to work out the programme of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of twin cities cooperation.

During the stay the delegation participated in a meeting with authorities of Gdynia. Besides, the delegation members learned about activities of the Economic Foundation, Pomeranian Science and Technology Park, Business and Administration School as well as Saint Padre Pio Caritas Aid Centre.

German guests got acquainted with Gdynia investment campaign and the comprehensive programme of activities for the disabled, entitled: “Gdynia without barriers". In his presentation a Kiel representative introduced economic potential of Kiel.

Between 27th and 29th January 2005 a delegation from our Danish twin city of Aalborg visited Gdynia. The delegation was composed of representatives of the Regional Library of Northern Jutland, Aalborg Historical Museum, Aalborg Art Pavilion and "Huset" Community Centre. The Danish guests came to our city at the invitation of the Public Library of Gdynia and the Museum of the City of Gdynia. The visit was a follow-up of the discussion about joint undertakings and experience exchange led during the Twin Cities Seminar in Aalborg attended by Gdynia representatives.

The joint visit of the representatives of different institutions from Aalborg was aimed at comparing the structure and functioning of cultural institutions in both cities. Its goal was also to discuss the possibilities of initiating joint undertakings, especially the project of including the library of Gdynia in the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen’s birth, organisation of Gdynia artists’ exhibitions in Aalborg as well as the exhibitions of Danish artists in Gdynia.

During the delegates’ stay in Gdynia there was organised a meeting with local authorities in Gdynia City Hall. In the course of the meeting the Danish institutions were presented.
The content-related part of the programme of stay, including study visits to branch libraries and museum buildings, was prepared by the Public Library of Gdynia and the Museum of the City of Gdynia.

On 3rd February 2005, in Gdynia City Hall there was organised a meeting with the representatives of North Denmark EU Office in Brussels, whose activities consist in lobbying for the North Denmark Region among EU politicians as well as in matchmaking of partners for EU projects. The office is also responsible for running a Business Forum for private companies. The aim of the meeting was to present the activities of the office and the EU projects realised by our city as well as to discuss the possibilities of initiating cooperation.

On 11th February 2005 the commanding officer of NATO Response Force Maritime Group which stayed in Gdynia between 11th and 14th February 2005 paid a courtesy visit to Gdynia City Hall. The Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group included a Dutch frigate being the flagship of the group (HNLMS WITTE DE WITH), a Canadian frigate (HMCS MONTREAL), a German frigate (FGS LUBECK) as well as an American one (USS MC INERNEY).

On 10th February 2005 in the Central Public Library an exhibition presenting all sister cities of Gdynia was opened. As a continuation of this exposition, there will be organised a series of informative exhibitions about Gdynia’s twin cities which will be presented in different branches of the Public Library located in various districts of Gdynia. The aim of these exhibitions is to present the twin cities as well as their tourist, cultural and economic values to Gdynia inhabitants. Starting from May 2005 it will be possible to admire a photographic exhibition presenting Kiel (Germany) which will be shown in all the public libraries of Gdynia. In the second half of 2005 there will be presented a photographic exhibition about Plymouth (Great Britain). Kiel and Plymouth are partner cites Gdynia has had the longest cooperation with.

In March this year in the branch library no. 18 in Gdynia Chylonia there will be presented works from Kaliningrad sent in for a competition connected with ecological issues. It was Russian children and young people from Gdynia Youth Culture Centre who participated in this international competition organised onboard “Kruzenstern" in 2001.

On 19th April 2005 a delegation of primary and secondary schools’ headmasters and representatives of Education Department of Liepaja City Hall (Latvia), Gdynia’s twin city, paid a visit to Gdynia. The delegation met with Gdynia authorities and afterwards participated in study visits to Gdynia’s schools: Grammar School no 2, School Complex no 14 and Municipal College.
The aim of the visit to Gdynia was to familiarize with the educational programme and the organization of these schools, as well as with the organization of additional classes and cooperation with parents.

The 13th Twin Cities Sporting Competition took place in Gdynia from 27th to 30th April 2005. About 300 competitors from Gdynia and 6 twin cities: Baranovichi, Kaliningrad, Karlskrona, Kiel, Klaipeda and Liepaja took part in the event. Young participants competed with each other in 4 sports: football, basketball, table tennis and orienteering.

On 28th April 2005 Wojciech Szczurek, Mayor of Gdynia, opened the Twin Cities Sporting Competition during a solemn opening ceremony which was held in Gdynia Sports Center. The same day in Gdynia City Hall there was organized a meeting of twin cities’ representatives with the authorities of Gdynia.

The closing ceremony of the 13th Twin Cities Sporting Competition took place on 30th April 2005 during the European Race. It was Gdynia which came first in the general classification, before the representation of Kaliningrad and Liepaja.

In 2005 Gdynia celebrated the 20th anniversary of the twinning link between Gdynia and Kiel. The cooperation agreement was signed on 25th June 1985.
On the occasion of 20th anniversary of the partnership the two cities prepared the programme of jubilee celebrations, which comprised among other things:

- an exhibition of Gdynia photographers, Marzena and Maurycy Śmierzchalski, entitled “Kiel from a Gdynia perspective" in “Ratusz" Gallery (18th April -20th May 2005).
In the exhibition there were presented photos taken by Gdynia photographers during their stay in Kiel. The photos presented a record of impressions of the city itself, its architecture and numerous events. There were also presented photos featuring exchanges of citizens of Gdynia and Kiel and official contacts between the cities.

- 10th Kiel meeting of young people from Kieler Fredrih-Junge Schule and Realschule Pries and Gdynia’s Refrigerating Engineering and Electronic School Complex (April 2005). A group of 16 students and their teachers spent a week together with their Gdynia hosts, living in their houses. Within the visit the guests participated in a programme prepared by the school and in a meeting with local authorities of Gdynia, as well as in the opening of the exhibition entitled “Kiel from a Gdynia perspective".

- a visit of German-Polish Association from Kiel to Gdynia (May 2005). During the stay the Association board and its members met Gdynia local authorities in Gdynia City Hall, participated in a sightseeing tour of Gdynia and in a get-together party as well as in events prepared by Polish-German Society from Gdynia.

- an exhibition entitled “Schönes Gdynia - eine Pertnerstadt stellt sich vor" (Beautiful Gdynia - presentation of a twin city) in Kiel City Hall (17th June - 18th July 2005).
The exhibition of photos by Sławomir Kitowski was prepared by the Gdynia City Museum, in cooperation with the City Halls of Gdynia and Kiel.

- an exhibition entitled “Gdynia - die Geschichte einer Partnerstadt" (Gdynia - history of a twin city) in Kiel City Hall (9th - 25th September 2005). The exhibition was made up of printed charts containing photos and descriptions presenting a short history of Gdynia from 19th century to the present day.

- an exhibition entitled “Miniaturen der Webkunst" (Weaving miniatures) in Kiel City Hall (9th - 25th September 2005). On the exhibition there were presented works of the artists taking part in International Baltic Triennale of Weaving Miniature in Gdynia in the years 2001-2004.

- an exhibition entitled “Drei Dimensionen" (Three dimensions) a Kiel gallery “Hof Akkerboom" (10th September- 9th October 2005). The exhibition contained works of contemporary Gdynia artists: Janusz Osicki (painting), Aleksander Widyński (printed fabric) and Dąbrówka Tyślewicz (sculpture and ceramics).

On the occasion of 20th anniversary of the twin cities’ cooperation there was held a football tournament for young sportsmen of both cities accompanied by get-together meetings which were organized on 10th -17th September 2005. Moreover, on 7th -12th September 2005 a group of foster children of Special School-Educational Center no 2 visited Kiel at the invitation of Association for Polish Culture Promotion “Polonus".

The inhabitants of Gdynia were presented with an original gift of sculpture from citizens of the partner town of Seattle. The sculpture entitled “Coming Home" was made by an American artist Louise McDowell and financed by Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association. This sculpture symbolizes the ties, which unite the city of Gdynia and its American twin city - Seattle. It features two Coho salmons, which swim in one direction, towards the same aim. The rock, however, symbolizes the ties with the earth.

The celebration of unveiling of the commemorative sculpture took place on 22 May 2005, at the end of the Seaside Boulevard, in the vicinity of the Polanka Redłowska. Representatives of the Seattle authorities, representatives of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association, representative of US Embassy in Warsaw and Gdynia citizens participated in the ceremony.

Between 21st and 24th May 2005 Gdynia was visited by a delegation of representatives of Seattle authorities led by Ms. Jean Godden, Chairperson of Commission on Energy and Environment Affairs of the Seattle City Council. Moreover, among the guests from America there were representatives of Boeing Corporation, Seattle Trade Development Alliance, American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and representatives of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association.

During the first day of the stay, the participants of the American delegation took part in the ceremony of unveiling the sculpture from Seattle, and then in a gala concert of the 6th edition of the competition entitled “Gdynia without barriers" at the Musical Theatre.

The next day the American delegation participated in the official meeting with Gdynia authorities, during which directions of future cooperation between both cities were discussed, especially the possibilities of initiation of the economic cooperation. In order to acquaint with the economic potential of the city, US representatives paid a visit to the Port of Gdynia , “Gemini", Dalmor", WTC, Invest Comfort, as well Vector and Dellner Couplers.

Moreover, Americans participated in study visits to Solid Waste Management Plant “Eko Dolina". During the stay in Gdynia the American delegation had also an opportunity to get to know public transport system, on the example of Municipal Transport Company. At the end of the visit, the guests from Seattle paid a visit to the Water-supply and Sewage System Company in Gdynia.

On 22nd May 2005 at the Music Theatre in Gdynia, the gala concert of the 6th edition of the competition entitled “Gdynia without barriers" took place, during which initiatives aiming at the improvement of living standards of people with disabilities were rewarded. A concert of Urszula Dzudziak added splendor to the prize-giving ceremony. An official delegation from Seattle, staying at that time in Gdynia, as well as delegations from Aalborg (Denmark), Kristiansand (Norway) and Karlskrona (Sweden), which came to our city for an annual conference, organized within programme entitled “Gdynia without barriers", participated in the gala.

Organised on 23rd May 2005, the conference was focused on the role of local government in professional activation of disabled people. For the first time, participants and speakers from Gdynia’s twin cities took part. A chairman of Advisory Commission on Disability from Aalborg was one of the speakers, and during the main part of the conference he presented the Danish experience connected with the problem of the employment of disabled people. During the second part of the conference, organised in the form of workshops, representatives of Karlskrona and Kristiansand presented the employment system of disabled people in their countries.

Apart from the participation in the conference, foreign guests met also with Mayor’s Plenipotentiary on Disabled People. During the meeting the city’s initiatives within “Gdynia without barriers" programme were discussed. Delegations also visited Adaptation Centre for disabled children and youth, run by Gdynia Integration Society “Promyk".

By the agency of the Mayor of Gdynia, “Plymouth-Gdynia Twinning Panel", presented to the Children Ward of the City Hospital a DVD/VHS player and a set of DVD and VHS films. The ceremony took place on 1st June 2005, i.e. on the International Children’s Day. The equipment was purchased thanks to money raised by members of the above-mentioned Society. For many years, the city of Plymouth has been supporting the City Hospital, especially the Children Ward and Isotopic Laboratory. Next year, we will be celebrating the jubilee of the 80th anniversary of twinning link with Plymouth.

On 17th -26th June 2005 Gdynia together with the Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship took part in the 28th International Market, organised during “Kieler Woche 2005"- the biggest summer international event in northern Europe. On the International Market there were 31 national stands which presented tourist offers of cities and regions as well as artistic craft products. Moreover, on the stands traditional dishes, typical of the participating countries, could be tasted.

On the stand of Gdynia and Pomorskie Voivodeship amber jewellery, Kashubian embroidery, artistic craft products in wood and promotiononal literature of the city and Pomorskie Voivodeship were presented. Within cultural contribution of Gdynia and Pomorskie Voivodeship the shanties band gave a concert on the stand and the main stage in front of the Kiel City Hall. Gdynia’s stand was visited by representatives of Polish communities in Germany, such as German-Polish Society and Association for Polish Culture Promotion Society. Additionally, the General Consul of Poland in Germany, Andrzej Kremer, was present on Gdynia’s stand. This year’s “Kieler Woche" was opened on 18th June 2005 by the President of Germany, Horst Kohler, the Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein Land, Peter Harry Carstensen and the Mayor of Kiel, Angelika Volquartz, who paid a visit to the Polish stand afterwards.
During “Kieler Woche" on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of twinning cooperation between Gdynia and Kiel, German-Polish Society organised a solemn meeting with Polish guests, i.a. the representatives of Gdynia City Hall, officers of ORP “Kaszub" and Polish students studying in Kiel.

An official representative of Gdynia to “Kieler Woche", Mr. Bogusław Stasiak, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia took part in a programme organised for official delegations of Kiel twin cities on 17th 20th June 2005. Within the programme, the representative of Gdynia participated in meetings with the President of Germany, Horst Kohler and local authorities of Kiel, as well as with the diplomatic corps. During a ceremony held in Kiel City Hall on 17th June 2005, Mr. Stasiak, opened a photographic exhibition entitled, “Schönes Gdynia - eine Partnerstadt stellt sich vor".

Mr. Stasiak also took part in a solemn opening of “Kieler Woche" and accompanying events. One of the traditional elements of the programme was his participation in the International Cities Forum, organized for the 29th time.

On 14th -19th July 2005 a representative of a Swedish theatre from Ystad “Ystads Stående Teatersällskaps" paid a visit to Gdynia. This visit was a continuation of cultural cooperation between cities of the Baltic Sea Region, initiated in 2003 within the “Baltic Summer Stage - new vision of the open-air theatre" project.
The aim of the visit was to determine cooperation conditions between “Ystads Stående Teatersällskaps" and Witold Gombrowicz Municipal Theatre in Gdynia. During the five-day stay, the Municipal Theatre intended to present to their Swedish guest the system of work and functioning of their theatre, especially the Summer Stage. Additionally, artistic plans and forms of cooperation were discussed.
The talks about the possibility of next season’s exchanges of performances are held at the moment.

On 11th August 2005 in the “Ratusz" Gallery an exhibition, entitled “August strikes" was opened. Among the exhibits there were i.a. strike bulletins, photos and cuttings from local newspapers of the strike time, as well as leaflets, post stamps and books published in the underground printing.

Other elements of the exhibition were charts devoted to the building of the monument “To the December 1970 victims", to the marathon of the first “Solidarność", which took place in 1981, as well as photos from the first exhibition about “Solidarność".

A separate part of the exhibition presented documents, photos and press cuttings sent by Gdynia’s twin cities: Seattle (USA), Plymouth (United Kingdom), Kiel (Germany) and Kristiansand (Norway). The received materials comprised information about the support offered in the 1980’s by our friends from twin cities. Press articles present commentary of the foreign press about events in Poland in that period.

On 28th - 31st August 2005 an American delegation from Seattle, including representatives of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association and Transport Trade Union from Seattle (Amalgamated Transit Union - A.T.U. Local 587) visited Gdynia and the rest of Tri-city.
Apart from official celebrations of the 25th anniversary of “Solidarność", the guests took part in the meeting with representatives of Gdynia local authorities, which took place on 29th August 2005, at 9 a.m. in Gdynia City Hall. After the meeting members of the Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association visited an exhibition entitled “August strikes" in the “Ratusz" Gallery.

This exhibition, apart from the part devoted to the events of August 1980, presented the input and activities of Polish communities from various Gdynia’s twin cities, including Seattle, supporting the “Solidarność" underground. Materials concerning the American help were given by the members of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association.

Afterwards the guests from Seattle took part in a study visit to PKP Cargo S.A, Rolling Stock Company in Gdynia and the ceremony of presenting an occasional medal on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of NSZZ “Solidarność" of Railwaymen. This honorable distinction was given to the representatives of Seattle in recognition of their involvement in promotion of the solidarity idea and their support for all Polish people fighting with communistic regime in the 1980’s.

On 8th and 11th September 2005 a Gdynia delegation visited Kiel on the occasion of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the twinning link between Gdynia and Kiel. Within the stay the delegation took part in a solemn meeting summarizing 20 years of cooperation with our German partner. Held in the City Council Hall, the meeting was attended by Rainer Tschorn, Chairman of Kiel City Council, Angelika Volquartz, Mayor of Kiel, Jan Granat, Consul of German Federal Republic in Hamburg, as well as Kiel councilors, members of German-Polish Society in Kiel, the executive of Polish-German Society in Gdynia, the director of Gdynia City Museum, Gdynia’s artists, the headmaster of Refrigerating Engineering and Electronic School Complex in Gdynia and members of Association for Polish Culture Promotion “Polonus".
At the meeting, during the speeches of Gdynia and Kiel of the representatives, there were presented the most important facts from the history of the twinning link between both cities, a film about the last visit of the youth from Kieler Friedrich Junge Schule/Realschule Pries to Refrigerating Engineering and Electronic School Complex was presented.

Also the children from Special School-Educational Centre no 2 in Gdynia together with their teachers came to Kiel. The group had been invited by the Association for Polish Culture Promotion “Polonus". Gdynia’s youth took part in a solemn jubilee meeting in Kiel City Hall on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the twinning link between Gdynia and Kiel as well as in one-week programme, organised by “Polonus" Association. It was already the second visit of Gdynia Centre to Kiel at the invitation of the Association for Polish Culture Promotion “Polonus".

Within jubilee celebrations of the twinning 20th anniversary an opening of two exhibitions, entitled “Gdynia - die Geschichte einer Partnerstadt" (Gdynia - history of a twin city) and “Miniaturen der Webkunst" (Weaving miniatures) took place in Kiel City Hall. The Gdynia delegation participated also in the opening of the International Week of Cultures in Mettenhof district and then in the opening of the third Gdynia exhibition entitled “Drei Dimensionen" (Three dimensions) in “Hof Akkerboom" Gallery. This exhibition presented works of contemporary Gdynia artists: Janusz Osicki (painting), Aleksander Widyński (printed fabric) and Dąbrówka Tyślewicz (sculpture and ceramics).

The three above-mentioned Gdynia’s exhibitions which took place in Kiel in September/October 2005 were part of one project entitled “Gdynia in Kiel" organised by Gdynia City Museum in cooperation with Kiel City Hall and Gdynia City Hall. The project was co-financed by Polish-German Cooperation Foundation in Warsaw.

During the stay in Kiel the Gdynia delegation had a meeting with the director responsible for mass events organised in a Kiel multifunctional sporting and spectacular arena “Ostseehalle". The delegation had an opportunity to familiarize with functioning rules and mass events organization system in the context of a newly-built sporting hall in Gdynia.

On 10th and 18th September 2005 representatives of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association and those of Seattle Polish Film Festival, as well as Los Angeles Polish Film Festival visited Gdynia. The guests participated in the 30th jubilee of Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, taking part in numerous film projections, press conferences and accompanying events. Seattle Polish Film Festival sponsored an award for the best film in the independent cinema competition. The award was presented to a film director Tomasz Szafrański, for the film entitled “Devil". The director of the awarded film was invited to take part in the 2006 Seattle Polish Film Festival.

In September 2005 the 8th Sacral Music Festival was organized in Gdynia. Organised by Gdynia Culture Centre, the festival took place in Franciscan Church in Gdynia. Among other participants there was an orchestra from Lithuanian twin city of Gdynia - Klaipeda, called “Camerata Klaipeda".

“Camerata Klaipeda" was founded in October 2004 by a Lithuanian violin virtuoso Vilhelmas Cepinskis. The orchestra consists of the 14 most gifted students of the Music Academy, who are members of many international orchestras (i.a. in London, Viena) and musicians, who have already finished their music studies.

“Camerata Klaipeda" cooperates with other foreign orchestras and thanks to it the orchestra has an opportunity to share its experiences and gain some new ones during numerous foreign concerts.

On 21st - 24th September 2005 a delegation of Ukrainian Uzhgorod representatives headed by the City Mayor, Mr. Victor Pogorelov, visited Gdynia. The aim of the visit was to familiarize the guests with the local self-government, civil society building, municipality management, as well as determination of cooperation areas’ in connection with the planned signing of an agreement with a new Ukrainian partner.
On the first day of the visit the delegation met the representatives of Gdynia local authorities and familiarized themselves with Gdynia City Hall functioning rules, especially with the citizen service system. Then the guests participated in the meeting, during which there were presented Gdynia experiences concerning the creation and functioning of the local self-government, including establishing and functioning rules of district councils, as well as the programme of city cooperation with public benefit organizations. The Ukrainians paid a visit to the Non-governmental Organizations Center in Gdynia. At the end the guests got acquainted with the tourist potential of the region and visited Gdansk and Sopot.
During the next day of the visit, the foreign guests familiarized themselves with the “Gdynia without Barriers" programme, as well as visited the Gdynia Integration Association Center “Promyk". The participation in 2-days long International Economic Forum - Gdynia 2005 (22nd - 23rd September 2005), during which the representatives of regional and national companies, representatives of banks and financial institutions, diplomats and self-governmental officers discussed the problems of small and medium enterprise financing, Baltic tourism and maritime economy was an important element of the Ukrainian delegation visit.

On 25th - 27th September 2005 Gdynia was visited by a delegation of eight representatives of local authorities, chamber of commerce and tourist sector, as well as financial office from a Chinese Haikou city, headed by the Honorary Chairman of People’s Hainan Association for Friendship with Countries, Mr. Wang Wiel.
During the visit the representatives of People’s Republic of China had a meeting with Gdynia authorities, during which a letter of intent between both cities was signed. This letter provides for cooperation and exchange in such areas as trade, enterprise development and business promotion, as well as tourism, education, culture, spatial planning and environmental protection. This event is the first step towards a signing of a formal Twin City agreement between Gdynia and Haikou.
During the next day of the stay, the Chinese guests paid study visits to the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A., Gdynia Container Terminal S.A. Chinese delegation met the representatives of Chipolbrok and Inter Marine as well.

On 22nd - 23rd September 2005 there was held the International Economic Forum in Gdynia. The official opening of Forum was done by the Mayor of Gdynia, Mr. Wojciech Szczurek, together with the Ambassador of People’s Republic of China in Warsaw, His Excellency Mr. Yuan Guisen.
The idea of Forum was to present the investment rules and practical activities in the field of finances, tourism and maritime economy on the Polish and Chinese market. The representatives of China and a delegation from Ukraine, visiting Gdynia at that time, as well as representatives of the biggest regional and national companies, banks and financial institutions, experts and self-governmental officers took part in the conference.

On the first day of the conference there was held a plenary session and the next day, there were held three thematical sessions.

Within the financial panel there were discussed such problems as small and medium enterprise financing, functioning of private capital investment market, financing by means of stock exchange market, fusions and taking-overs, as well as management buy-out. The aim of the presentation was to provide the participants with the detailed knowledge and information in the field of functioning of various institutions of the capital market.

The second thematic session concerned the tourist field, especially of the business kind in the Baltic region. Among others, there were discussed the Baltic Programme assumptions, questions of the need to finance tourism in the Baltic region and cross-borders cooperation in the region.

The participants in the maritime economy panel discussed, for example, transport, shipping and logistics, legal aspects of trade cooperation between Polish companies and enterprises from Asian region, especially China.

From 3rd to 14th October 2005 in “Ratusz" Gallery in Gdynia City Hall there will be held an exhibition of works of art awarded in the International Artistic Competition, entitled “From the sea we are".

The competition was aimed at the school children and youth and was held for the 21st time this year. Its aim is to stimulate and mould esthetic sensitivity in the educational process of young people. Six years ago, establishing the cooperation with the Association of Polish Communes of Euroregion Baltic gave the competition its international status, involving the states of the Baltic Sea Region.
Over 2000 entries were sent to this year’s edition of the competition, from among which 192 entries were selected for the main post-competition exhibition in Poland and 102 entries for the exhibitions in Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Denmark and Kaliningrad Region. The honoured authors and their teachers were awarded the equivalent Grand Prix Award in the form of a participation in the art workshops, entitled “The Cleanness of the Baltic is the Beauty of the World", on the seaside location, organized by the Youth Community Center in Elbląg.
This year’s edition of the competition was financed by EU Phare CBC Programme.

On 18th October 2005 Gdynia was visited by Norwegian guests representing SINTEF Polska Ltd., being part of SINTEF concern - the biggest independent research organisation in Scandinavia, as well as those representing an intercommunal development agency of Gode Sirklar AS, set up by three communes of the Hordaland Region. Consequently, among the delegates there were also representatives of the a/m region.

During their stay in our city the Norwegian delegation visited Gdynia Shipyard, Ship Repair Yard “Nauta" as well as Pomeranian Science and Technology Park. They also participated in a meeting with the authorities of Gdynia during which a letter of intent between the Municipality of Gdynia and SINTEF Polska Ltd. was signed. The letter provides for future cooperation and implementation of joint projects in the field of local governance, industry and education. Moreover, the Norwegian delegation met with headmasters of Gdynia junior secondary schools in order to discuss possibilities of cooperation between Gdynia
and Norwegian schools within joint educational projects.

On 20th October 2005 Gdynia played host to the International Transport Seminar devoted to trolleybus transport, which was organised by Commission on Transportation of the Union of the Baltic Cities in cooperation with TELLUS project (Transport & Environment aLLiance for Urban Sustainability).

The Gdynia seminar was focused on issues connected with ecological trolleybus transport. Representatives of various cities, both from Western and Central Europe, presented their experiences in this kind of transport. Moreover, the seminar was attended by Marcel Rommerts, European Commission representative, who presented an EU stance on ecological vehicles. Being of high regional importance, at the seminar there was also a representative of European Restructuring and Development Bank as this institution is interested in financing the implementation of trolleybus transport projects.

On the following day, i.e. 21st October 2005 Gdynia, which is the member of the UBC Commission on Transportation, played host to the Commission’s Annual Meeting. During the meeting there were discussed initiatives and undertakings of the Commission realised within the past five years as well as its new organisational rules were presented. At the end of the meeting the Commission on Transportation Coordinator, i.e. City of Gőteborg (Sweden), handed over the chairmanship of the a/m Commission to Gdynia. Consequently, since November 2005 the UBC Commission on Transportation Secretariat has been run by Gdynia City Hall.