The Speaker of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Marek Kuchciński opened the XII World Polonia Winter Games - Podkarpackie 2016. The competitions are held in Sanok, Ustrzyki Dolne and Przemyśl, and 500 athletes from all over the world are taking part, most from the Czech Republic and Lithuania.

During the opening ceremony, Podkarpackie Marshal Władysław Ortyl emphasized the special bond linking Podkarpacie with Polonia: "Many residents of Podkarpacie have wandered to different parts of the world at different stages of history. Today you have returned".

The Games are certainly a great opportunity to promote the region, its natural beauty, traditions and culture. They will last until Friday, March 4th.

The co-organizers are: "Polish Community" Association with its president Longin Komolowski and the Marshal of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship together with the local authorities of the region.

The World Polonia Games have a tradition of over eighty years.