Kamil Bortniczuk made the statement in an interview with Poland's PAP news agency on Wednesday.
Asked if the 2023 European Games had proved Poland’s credentials as a possible host of the Olympic Games, the sports minister said the country "has a big chance to land Olympics" in the future and "should submit its candidacy."
Bortniczuk added: “It’s a political decision. I will be urging for such a decision to be made.”
The Polish sports minister told the PAP news agency: “By successfully holding the 2023 European Games, we have made a giant step towards assuring the sports community that Poland is capable of being a brilliant host of various multi-sport events.”
'We can do it'
Bortniczuk stated: “We should apply to organise the first Olympic Games that are available, which means the 2036 Olympics ... Poland has a sufficient level of economic development, sufficient budgetary resources and sufficient experience, in part thanks to the 2023 European Games.”
“Quite simply, we can do it,” he declared, adding that "this is also the view of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Spyros Capralos."
Bortniczuk said: “The EOC president said that by successfully hosting the 2023 European Games, Poland proved it was also ready to organise winter or summer Olympics. This view is shared by a great many people who got an inside look at the 2023 European Games.”
A total of 370 Polish athletes, 188 men and 182 women, competed for medals at the 3rd European Games, which opened in Poland's Kraków on June 21 and lasted until July 2.
The 2023 European Games featured 12 days of competition in 29 sports and provided opportunities to win European championship medals and a pathway to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in some of the sports.
More than 7,000 athletes from 48 countries took part in the event, which was held at 25 venues in 13 southern Polish cities.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, polskieradio24.pl, insidethegames.biz