Every event like an Olympic final. World record holders, Natalia Kaczmarek's show, Armand Duplantis's vaults and probable record attendance. The Diamond League meeting in the Silesian Stadium on 25 August is not to be missed – that is what 52 medalists from Paris have decided.
– There will not be as many people watching athletics competition here as in the Stade de France, as we have a somewhat smaller stadium. But I have one dream. On 25 August at the Polish Diamond League I would like you to be as loud as the French crowd – that was the appeal from Ewa Swoboda, the ninth fastest sprinter of the Olympics. Swoboda, as well as the Olympic bronze medalist Natalia Kaczmarek, are preparing for what, as they stated, is their second most important competition of the year.
So are the fans. For those still unsure about purchasing tickets, we present the most important reasons not to put it off.
Silesian Stadium to thank Natalia Kaczmarek
While the Games in Paris were not too successful for the Polish athletics team, there were several gems. We will remember the national record in the 1500 metres, the hundredths of a second that separated Pia Skrzyszowska and Ewa Swoboda from making the finals, but most of all the historic bronze medal of Natalia Kaczmarek. Our star 400 metres specialist was a major part of the show that gave statisticians a lot to ponder on: the first time all finalists broke 50 seconds and the first race ever with three women under 49. Most importantly, from the Polish perspective, for the first time since Irena Szewińska in 1976 the country had a top-three placing in the event. Now that athlete is coming to compete in Silesia, a place from which she has great memories from previous years. It was here that she beat Marileidy Paulino, the one time to date that she has done it. The Paris champion will be on the startlist once again, as will the runner-up Salwa Eid Naser. Revenge time? That is a secondary consideration. More importantly, there will be no better occasion this year to thank Natalia for the joy she recently brought to the fans.
Be a part of history. Targetting attendance record!
– The current ticket sales level prove people indeed want to do that. They wish to see their hero in person. But it is not just about her, as every event will be of Olympic final quality. The evidence? Skrzyszowska, Kaczmarek and Andrejczyk will compete against complete sets of medalists from Paris. In total, 52 athletes who made the Olympic podium are set to compete. No wonder that ticket sales broke the 30 thousand barrier a while ago and we are now dreaming of selling 42,401. That would mean the Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial would beat the Polish attendance record for an athletics event since the advent of the era when stadiums have numbered seats rather than benches. We can do it! - said the meeting's communications director Marek Plawgo.
Tickets are still available for sale. All it takes is to enter the eBilet.pl site and pick the seats that interest you most – at the finish line, high jump, hammer throw or pole vault (featuring Armand Duplantis) sectors.
Who would not like to witness a world record
It is Duplantis, next to Natalia Kaczmarek, who is the biggest draw of the Polish Diamond League event. In the Paris Olympic final, the Swede set his second world record of the summer. The king of the vault is writing his own chapter in the history of the event and his current best stands at 6.25.
– That is not his limit. He can vault much higher – stated Piotr Lisek, who will be one of Duplantis's opponents in Silesia.
After the Paris show, the world saw the computer graphic which showed there was enough room to spare on Duplantis's record clearance that the bar could have been set at 6.30. We know it is his way to take it one centimetre at a time. 6.26 to come on Sunday? No one says it out loud. But everyone is thinking about it. So is Duplantis himself.
Norwegian legs know how to roll up the tracks
It is entirely possible for records to come from elsewhere. Just for context, last year we saw 29 of them – global, area, national etc. In four events global best marks of the year were set.
– That time, the athletes were building their form before the year's prime event, now they have already reached it. Coming after the Olympics, everyone is in top shape. That is one thing, the other one is desire for redemption. Coming here will be champions from Paris, as well as those who missed out and have something to prove – said the meeting's sports director Piotr Małachowski.
Among them are Djamel Sedjati in the 800 metres, Polish hammer throwers facing Ethan Katzberg and two great Norwegians: Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Karsten Warholm. The latter, world record holder at 400 metres hurdles, finished behind Rai Benjamin. Ingebrigtsen, before winning the 5000, spectacularly lost in the 1500 metres, the distance at which he set a European record at the „Kama” last year. This time, he will run the 3000 metres. The goal is once again a record, but this time it is a global one (the current mark is Daniel Komen's 7:20.67).
Silesia is magnificent. It is worth arriving early
The athletics excitement will start on 25 August at 2 PM, with the main programme commencing at 4 PM. That leaves the fans planning on watching top athletes with a few hours available for sightseeing in Silesia. As always, the crowd will arrive at the Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in a colourful parade through the Silesian Park. In its heart is an abundance of attractions for the whole family. Getting closer, one should not miss the Diamond League Museum. This year we have prepared an exhibition with a great deal of useful information and fun facts, including real medals won by Polish stars and throwing implements, which the visitors will be able to take in their hands to feel their weight. This is only a fraction of what is awaiting on the day.
– We feel pride when we can tell you this: come to the Diamond League in Silesia, you will be a part of history – Małachowski announced.
