A Brief Outline of the Post-war History of Sport Policy in the Rural Areas of the Opolskie Region

Purpose: This review paper discusses the widely used policy analysis frameworks in sport. Given the lack of an This article outlines the history of the development of sports in rural areas of the Opolskie region in Poland after World War II. The author presents the political context as well as the operations of subsequent state organizations responsible for the promotion of sports in rural areas in the harsh reality of post-war deficits. The author also stresses the role of the Catholic Church in the newly established social structures in the post-war period. While not supportive of the structures, the church feared that the dynamic social changes would result in a decline in church attendance. The article also discusses the reconstruction and construction of new sport infrastructure in rural areas carried out under a voluntary initiative called Subbotnik. Another period significant in the context of rural sports was the takeover of the People’s Sport Teams by the “Service for Poland” National Organization. Operations under its auspices led to an increased sporting activity.