FISU President Oleg Matytsin awarded the Jean Petitjean Medal to the Polish Olympic Committee ©FISU

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) has awarded its highest award, the Jean Petitjean Medal, to the Polish Olympic Committee (PKOI) in recognition of its centenary.

FISU President Oleg Matytsin, joined by vice-president Marian Dymalski, presented the award to Andrzej Kraśnicki, President of PKOI, on the opening day of the 48th European Olympic Committees General Assembly here today.

The Medal is named after Jean Petitjean, organiser of the International Universities Championships in Paris in 1923, the event considered the forerunner to the Universiade officially launched in 1959.

Poland's first Olympic gold medallist, Halina Konopacka, winner of the discus at Amsterdam 1928, was among the top athletes who started their careers in the country's university sports system ©Getty Images
Poland's first Olympic gold medallist, Halina Konopacka, winner of the discus at Amsterdam 1928, was among the top athletes who started their careers in the country's university sports system ©Getty Images

Poland were not among the countries that competed at Paris but Warsaw hosted the second edition of the Championships in 1924.

The University Sports Association of Poland, AZS, was actually founded 10 years before PKOI and has helped to shape many national sporting legends, including Halina Konopacka, Poland's first Olympic gold medallist when she won the discus at Antwerp 1928.