Clooney and Sikorski stole the show. These moments will go down in history.
"A Time of Uncertainty" – this is the slogan of this year's Freedom Games. Experts from around the world gathered in Łódź to jointly search for answers to questions about the future.
Freedom Games and Daniel Olbrychski's ChargeHow can we navigate a world rife with tension and conflict? How can we stem the rising tide of populism and the fascism of public life? These and other topics have become the starting point for inspiring conversations and debates.
And there was plenty to choose from – the event program featured panels on politics, economics, culture, and sports. Attendees could also listen to special live Olympic editions of popular podcasts, including "Crazy Science" and "State of the World Report."
The creators of the cult "Podcastex" clearly attracted the attention of the audience by recalling the famous charge of Daniel Olbrychski, who 15 years ago destroyed the "Nazis" exhibition at the Zachęta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw.
Serhiy Zhadan receives prestigious awardThe second day of the conference in Łódź began with a meeting with Serhiy Zhadan. The Ukrainian writer was awarded the Medal of Freedom.
In his speech , the author of, among other things, the novel "The Internat" emphasized the illusory sense of security in contemporary Europe. "The stable world we knew a decade ago has been replaced by a time of uncertainty. It turns out that the two great wars of the 20th century taught us nothing; history repeats itself; there are still tyrants who flirt with evil," he added.
What do Poles dream about?Freedom Games participants also had the opportunity to read the report from the study "Can Poles Dream?" , conducted by the PZU Foundation in cooperation with Natalia Hatalska's infuture.institute. As it turns out, priorities change significantly with age. The youngest citizens of our country (18-24 years old) focus primarily on their careers (35.3%), while in later years, the dominant priorities include the desire to own a home or travel.
The study also reveals a very alarming conclusion: for 14.6% of the youngest Poles, their main fears are loneliness and mental health problems . This is the highest result of any age group.
Wprost's Person of the Year on Mental Health in SportAleksandra Mirosław spoke with Joanna Gutral about the important role mental health plays (not just in an athlete's life). The Olympic champion and world record holder in speed climbing, who received the "Person of the Year" title from "Wprost" this year , emphasized how much her life changed after beginning her collaboration with Daria Abramowicz , who also mentors Iga Świątek, among others.
" A psychologist or psychiatrist is a doctor like any other. There's no shame in seeking help ," the athlete emphasized. Aleksandra Mirosław spoke candidly about her struggle with anxiety, her reaction to hate, and how to cope with the pressures every professional athlete faces.
During the panel "Gaza Strip: humanitarian disaster, moral disaster", Franciszek Sterczewski revealed the details of his participation in the Sumud Global Flotilla .
The politician also spared no bitter words for Israel. "We must distinguish between the perpetrators and the victims. We cannot be indifferent, we cannot ignore genocide," the Civic Coalition MP appealed.
"If we conduct business as usual, we share responsibility for what is happening. We should follow Spain's example. We must be consistent and demand a tribunal for Netanyahu," explained Franciszek Sterczewski.
The panel discussion with Radosław Sikorski generated enormous interest. During the meeting with the Foreign Minister, the room was packed, and the Freedom Games participants gave the politician a warm welcome. The Minister shared, among other things, his reflections on the future of the war in Ukraine.
He also took a dig at Viktor Orbán. "The Hungarian prime minister, although he didn't graduate, studied with me at the same college for a year. We had the same teacher – Zbigniew Pełczyński, who also taught Bill Clinton. He once said that two out of three of his students made it," he said ironically.
Kaczyński threatens Germany. Sikorski retortsDuring the discussion with Piotr Kraśka, there were also references to the situation in Poland. Radosław Sikorski lashed out at Jarosław Kaczyński. During the convention in Katowice, the PiS leader again tried to play an anti-German note and incite sentiment, claiming that "Germany wants to take our country away."
The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs admitted that he was "shocked by the fact that his political rivals are once again repeating nonsense about the 'rotten West'."
The Civic Coalition politician emphasized that "Jarosław Kaczyński's words aimed at Germany and France are not taken out of context." "That's exactly how they think, they're repeating Putin's propaganda. I don't know where they've gone," he admitted. "PiS politicians deny our Polishness, and all I know in German is what I learned from 'Czterej pancerni'," the minister mocked.
Later in the conversation, Piotr Kraśko noted that "Germany is weaker today than at any time in history, both economically and politically." "PiS politicians are quarrelling with AfD activists. Do they really think it would be in Poland's best interest if Germany were ruled by nationalists?" Radosław Sikorski asked.
In the context of the next parliamentary elections, Radosław Sikorski said that "it will be a plebiscite, the stakes of which will be whether we choose international cooperation and the use of European funds, or self-isolation and war with everyone." " Nationalism is not good for Poland ," he concluded.
Freedom Games. The organizers made a mistake.The evening's headliner was George Clooney, a Hollywood actor, director, and humanitarian who doesn't shy away from making political statements.
It's no secret that the star of "Good Night, Good Luck" is a staunch supporter and generous donor to the Democratic Party. George Clooney was one of the first members of the liberal establishment to openly call on Joe Biden to forgo a second run for president of the United States.
The actor appeared in Poland for the first time in history, so it is no wonder that meeting him attracted huge interest.
The organizers of the Freedom Games made an organizational blunder – between the debates with Sikorski and Clooney, chaos reigned in the Łódź Expo hall. A crowd of visibly confused participants milled outside the hall. The lack of proper information and the division between VIP guests and other Games participants sparked much criticism.
Freedom Games. George Clooney stole the show.However, after the first few moments of the meeting, they were quickly forgotten . George Clooney completely stole the show, winning the hearts of the Łódź audience with his directness and sense of humor. The actor devoted considerable time to assessing the current situation in the United States under Donald Trump's administration. He emphasized that "he is so committed to human rights because he wants his children to be proud of him."
The star drew attention to the fact that "for generations we haven't had as many dictatorships and autocracies as in the modern world." "Democracy requires constant vigilance. It's like a war that must be fought every day and in which you must believe every day," he emphasized.
George Clooney recalled growing up during the protests of the 1960s and 1970s, when cinema reflected social tensions and films like "All the President's Men" best expressed the prevailing mood among citizens. The actor admitted that protest films are hard to find these days because "Hollywood has become much more corporate."
Will George Clooney get involved in politics?Leszek Jażdżewski, the host of the meeting, asked if the actor had considered getting involved in politics. "I wouldn't want to be a politician, but my wife should be president," George Clooney replied, clearly amusing the audience.
Referring to the Freedom Games' motto – "Time of uncertainty" – the actor stressed that "we must always remember that we cannot take anything for granted at the moment."
"What happened in the US (Donald Trump's victory – ed.) could happen anywhere in the world. Remember not to give up, to fight clearly for your beliefs and to be persistent, because that's what democracy is all about. Your voice truly counts and matters," appealed George Clooney.
“A class of its own” – the words with which the mayor of Łódź, Hanna Zdanowska, welcomed George Clooney are probably the best summary of this meeting.
Read also: Kaczyński threatens Germany. Sikorski's eloquent reaction. Read also: Civic Coalition MP takes a risky step. He reveals the inside story.
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