The idea behind the plebiscite is to promote the sports of people with disabilities and break down the barriers and stereotypes. The winners receive a statue named after Sir Ludwig Guttmann - the founder of the Paralympic Games.
Andrzej Ochal has been affiliated with the Department of Rehabilitation MUW for 20 years, he has been conducting original classes for students of physiotherapy. In 2021 he was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta and the badge for “Merit for Sport.” He has been coaching the National Team of Disabled People of the Polish Table Tennis Association since 2018.
Coach of the Year 2023
At the European Championships for Persons with Disabilities, held September 4-9, 2023 in Sheffield, the national team won the medal classification. It won 16 medals: 10 gold, two silver and four bronze. This is a huge success, for which Andrew Ochal was awarded the Guttmann statuette.
Andrzej Ochal could not receive the award in person. He and his team are currently at an international competition, where they are fighting to advance to the Paralympic Games in Paris. However, he thanked everyone who contributed to the team's success.
The plebiscite's anniversary gala was held on December 4. During it, the winners in the following categories were presented: Athlete of 2023; Coach of 2023; Sports Organization of 2023; Sports Event of 2023; Team of 2023, and a special award was given. The event was held under the honorary patronage of the Minister of Sports and Tourism.
A report on the event and the winners