Active Poles: Two Decades of Participation in Sports and Active Recreation: An Attempt to Explain the Changes

This paper presents an overview of research on the participation of Poles in sports and physical recreation over the past twenty years. This form of longitudinal analysis of trends in one area of cultural participation reveals significant changes in the rate of participation in sports. From having very low rates of participation in the 1990s, Polish society has progressed to be in the upper-middle group of sports-participating societies in the EU. Specific elements of this progress are described and explained. The authors argue that the significant growth in Poles’ participation in sports is largely due to changes that are not directly related to sports, including a rise in the number of graduates from higher education, improving quality of life, better sport facilities, and a more positive perception of sports across society. Finally, questions concerning further developments and threats to increased participation in sports are considered