HISTORY OF THE DĄB BRZEŹNICA PEOPLE’S SPORTS CLUB – THE FIRST VILLAGE FREESTYLE WRESTLING CLUB IN THE OPOLE SILESIA IN THE YEARS 1953-1975

Abstract

By describing the history of the first wrestling club in the Opole Silesia, the author started from presentation of the sport in the rural areas in the Opole area after the 2nd World War. The period was dramatically difficult especially given the inherited
trauma of war operations and uncertainty about the future of the land which after 1945 came under Polish administration. From the very beginning, the youth in the rural areas became very much attracted to sporting activities. The post-war population boom, great
enthusiasm of local activists and eagerness and curiosity of the very youth caused that the project which was aimed at promoting participation in different kinds of physical activity, became a success. In Brzeźnica, wrestling became the leading discipline. From the
very beginning the Club, thanks to determination of its activists, developed gradually. Itis worth stressing that during the whole period of its operations the priority of the Club was to train children and the youth. It is worth reminding that during the four years of operations, i.e. years 1971-1975, at that time within the administrative limits of the Opolskie Province, the Club received significant financial support from a local sponsor – State Agricultural Enterprise in Kietrz