events in 2011

On 17-20 August 2011 Gdynia hosted a Dutch tall ship "Stad Amsterdam", the only sailing clipper in Europe. All the sailing enthusiasts had a chance to visit the ship and meet the crew who was very happy to explain operating principles of the deck equipment.

This extraordinary ship was built thanks to cooperation between the City of Amsterdam and a recruitment and HR services company - Randstad. Young unemployed people were engaged in constructing the ship, gaining valuable training and work experience. By combining love for beautiful ships with the engagement of the originators and the workers, in 2000 there was launched a three-masted clipper with the sails measuring a total of 2200 square feet and 60 metres long wooden deck. This fast tall ship participates in regattas and is used for cadet training. There are also special training trips organized onboard the ship to teach young enthusiasts how to become a professional sailor. In summer months "Stad Amsterdam" is sailing in European waters, and in winter it repositions to the Caribbean.

GDYNIA BUSINESS WEEK 2011

On 21st-26th August 2011 the third edition of "Gdynia Business Week" took place in our city. The program was carried out by the City Hall of Gdynia in cooperation American partners (Foundation for Private Enterprise Education and Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association). The event was organized under the honorary patronage of the Minister of Education and the U.S. Embassy with the support of Boeing Corporation and Microsoft. Moreover, the undertaking was held under the media patronage of Gazeta Wyborcza, Radio Gdansk and a web portal trojmiasto.pl

Within the framework of the program 81 students from 19 secondary schools in Gdynia and their 6 American peers in groups-companies tried their hand at business simulation called BizSim, created their own innovative products and prepared presentations for shareholders. The student companies were supervised by business mentors from American companies and the teachers from the schools in Gdynia. Apart from practical classes students participated in thematic presentations. The presentations were conducted by the representatives of Microsoft, Boeing and thriving companies from Gdynia and other Polish cities.

The program ends with Trade Show, during which the student companies and their products are assessed by the representatives of business. The Minister of Education Ms Katarzyna Hall participated at the closing ceremony of "Gdynia Business Week 2011". The parents of the students participating in the program and the principles of the schools were also invited to the closing ceremony. All the students were awarded with certificates and the representatives of the best student companies received prizes. The biggest money contribution from the shareholders received company F led by advisors James Barlow and Katarzyna Nozdrzykowska (IV High School) - their product was F-Ray, a special device for fast and easy painting of walls and rooms. In the category BizSim - the business simulation that was unbeatable was company D led by Fred McDonald and Malgorzata Paszkowska (I Academic High School). In the category "Facebook challenge" the winner was company B led by Ken Globerman and Anna Próchnicka ( Mechanic Schools). When it comes to the presentation that was voted the best by the jurors was given by company G advised by Darby Vigus and Anna Kulinska ( School of Economics and Administration).

Between 2-5 September 2011 as part of "The Culture 2011 Tall Ships Regatta" the most beautiful tall ships in the world visited Gdynia for the fifth time. In spite of the late summer arrangement the weather perfectly corresponded with the whole event and as in previous editions, it attracted crowds of sailing enthusiasts and received very positive reception.

This year's regatta had a different character from the previous editions because it was organized in connection with the fact that Turku received the title of The European Capital of Culture 2011. The race had two legs: first from Klaipeda (Latvia) to Turku (Finland), second from Turku to Gdynia. Our city as the final port was the place for handing in the awards. One of the most important trophies was "STI Friendship Trophy" which was given to "Dar Młodzieży" crew for the most significant contribution to the development of friendship and international understanding.

The regatta was accompanied by various cultural events such as: sightseeing trips in the Cassubian region and Tricity, sport competitions for the crews, colorful Crews Parade along the streets of Gdynia, shanties concerts and a big concert at the municipal beach finished by the fireworks display. Tourists and Gdynia residents had a unique opportunity to visit the vessels which came to Gdynia and among them 13 the biggest in the world tall ships (class A and B). The special guest of the regatta was "Zawisza Czarny", who celebrated the 50th anniversary of ship commissioning and in connection to it among others a shanties concert was organized onboard and a film about the vessel and other tall ships was shown. The crowning of the whole event was a phenomenal Parade of Sail of vessels leaving Gdynia port, which was observed by crowds of residents and tourists. This year's regatta met with great interest which was confirmed by the participation of about one million six hundred thousand people during all four days of the event.

GUESTS FROM KOTKA VISIT GDYNIA

On 2nd-6th September 2011 the City of Gdynia hosted the official delegation from our Finnish twin city Kotka. Although the formal agreement on cooperation was signed only in 1988, this year we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the cooperation between the cities.The Finns met the city authorities and visited Port of Gdynia Authority, the Economic Foundation and A KuKu Art Association. The guests visited the Museum of the City of Gdynia, Gdynia Motor Vehicle Museum and they also had a chance to admire the ships gathered at the port during the event that took place at that time in Gdynia - "The Culture 2011 Tall Ships Regatta".

On the occasion of celebration of the 50th anniversary of cooperation between Gdynia and Kotka "Kotkan Laulumiehet" - male choir from our twin city visited Gdynia. The choir consists of 51 members, but in Gdynia only 26 came to Gdynia to give a concert. In December 2010 the choir celebrated its 75th anniversary. The concert took place on 5th September 2011 in the City Theatre in Gdynia and it was met with a lot of enthusiasm from the big audience. The repertoire included Finnish folk songs, chanteys, Revelers' songs and arias from operettas.

STUDY VISITS OF FOREIGN MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES

In connection with Polish Presidency in the EU Council between June and September our city was visited by three delegations of journalists from the following countries: Switzerland - 14.06., Ethiopia - 29.07. and Russia - 21.09. The programme of all visits included the presentation of the most interesting tourist attractions in the city. In order to familiarize the guests with an investment offer of the city and the port, Swiss and Russian journalists participated, together with the port representative, in a cruise in the Port of Gdynia, whereas journalists from Ethiopia took part in the study visit to Pomeranian Science and Technology Park and met with the organizers of Globaltica Festival, which took place at that time. The aim of all visits was to present Gdynia's tourist and investment offer and establish prospective cooperation with chosen organizations and institutions.

At the beginning of November Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association for the 19th time was an organizer of Seattle Polish Film Festival. The festival, which aim is to present the output of polish cinema to wider audience and Seattle residents, but also promote young artists, is organized yearly since 1992. Presented productions are the newest full-length, independent, documental or animation films. This year's festival was inaugurated with Feliks Falk's film "Joanna" and apart from it the viewers had an opportunity to see such productions as: „Career of Nikoś Dyzma", „Entanglement", „Erratum", „Flying pigs", „Rabbit a la Berlin", „Snow queen" or „Prisoners". However, from Gdynia's point of view the most important event was the screening of Antoni Krauze's film "Black Thursday" showing the events of December 1970 in our city."Black Thursday" was the winner of 2011 Viewers Choice Award of the 2011 Seattle Polish Film Festival. The screening was also accompanied with the meetings in which the film director Antoni Krauze and the producer took part. Their subject matter was presenting the city of Gdynia, its present time, future and history, with the main focus on the events presented in the film, and also bilateral cooperation with the city of Seattle. Both the film screening as well as up to date information on the city were widely recognized by the audience and certainly contributed to popularizing and broadening the knowledge concerning Gdynia and Polish history among Seattle residents.

On 7th December 2011 we celebrated the Feast of Karlskrona, which has been the twin city of Gdynia since 9th November 1990. As part of this event the "Karlskrona Roundabout" at the junction of Chrzanowskiego and Polska streets, the name of which was approved by the resolution of Gdynia City Council, was solemnly opened. In the Tourist Information Centre at 10 Lutego Street 24 the opening of a photo exhibition "Karlskrona - Gdynia's twin city" was held. It was accompanied by a lecture about Karlskrona and southern Sweden carried out by Mr. Maciej Zborowski, a representative of Stena Line Tour Guide Department. After the lecture a contest was held with a voyage to Karlskrona for two people funded by Stena Lina as the prize. A performance of young people from the Swedish club in High School no. 2 was an additional attraction. Youngsters performed Swedish songs connected with Saint Lucia's Day. The Feast of Saint Lucy from Syracuse - the Festival of Light falls on 13th December and is traditionally celebrated with a procession of girls dressed in white robes and wearing crowns of candles on their heads. Songs connected with this feast are sung during the first half of December. Both events were attended by Karlskrona's official delegation led by the Mayor Camillą Brunsberg. The delegation had a meeting with Gdynia authorities and paid study visits to the Pomeranian Science & Technology Park as well as the Port of Gdynia Authority.