PGNiG’s partnership with the Polish Handball Association began in 2010. Handball has established itself as one of the most popular sports in Poland, ranking fourth behind volleyball and football (ARC Rynek i Opinia, January 2015). PGNiG S.A. is partner of men’s and women’s, both senior and youth, national teams.
The highlight of 2015 was the World Championship. The tournaments kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last day. In Qatar, the team won a bronze medal. The women’s national team finished fourth in Denmark.
2015 also spelled success for PGNiG Superliga teams in European club competitions. The Champions of Poland, Vive Tauron, advanced to the Champions League Final Four, ultimately coming in at third place. Pogoń Baltica Szczecin reached the final of the Women’s EHF Cup. The Azoty-Puławy handballers were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
The competition for the championship of the PGNiG Superliga ended in a convincing victory for Vive Tauron. The Kielce handballers were leading the table after the regular season, and in the play-offs final beat their age-old rival, ORLEN Wisła Płock, 3:0. In the women’s league, MKS Selgros became champions. In the final game for the championship of the PGNiG Superliga, MKS Selgros defeated Vistal Gdynia.
We could get a glimpse of the changes to come during the Polish Cup Final Four. As a title sponsor of the competition, PGNiG made sure that the audience at Warsaw’s Torwar remained entertained not only by the events on the court, but also during breaks in gameplay. We provided a host of engaging attractions, especially for the youngest fans. Vive Tauron Kielce won the men’s and Vistal Gdynia the women’s Polish Cup.
The popularity of beach handball has been growing year by year. Fans are most attracted by how spectacular the sport is. Teams receive additional points for goals scored in an acrobatic manner. Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo S.A. has organised a series of PGNiG Polish Beach Handball Tour tournaments for the title of Champions of Poland.
2015 was marked by preparations to professionalise handball in Poland. PGNiG Superliga operates under a proprietary format. As the Strategic Sponsor of Polish Handball, PGNiG is committed to developing Polish handball by transplanting solutions from the NBA or NHL and professionalising the competition, to build a league of the highest quality. Game organisation, professional teams incorporated as joint stock companies, new solutions (such as the League Commissioner) and the in-game fan experience will also resemble that encountered in the USA.
