2. Poland's sports include almost all sports, in particular: track & field, basketball, boxing, fencing, football, American football (Gridiron), handball, ice hockey, swimming, volleyball, and weightlifting. The first Polish Formula One driver, Robert Kubica, has also brought awareness of Formula One Racing to Poland. Football is the country's most popular sport, with a rich history of international competition. Poland has also made a distinctive mark in motorcycle speedway racing thanks to Tomasz Gollob, a highly successful Polish rider. The Polish mountains are an ideal venue for hiking, skiing and mountain biking and attract millions of tourists every year from all over the world. Baltic beaches and resorts are popular locations for fishing, canoeing, kayaking and a broad-range of other water-themed sports.
3. Football Poland national football team The Poland national football team (Polish: ReprezentacjaPolski w piłcenożnej) represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland. Poland's home ground is Silesian Stadium in Chorzów and their head coach is FranciszekSmuda. Poland's football history is littered with boom and bust periods, with legendary teams such as the one of the mid-seventies that held England to a draw at Wembley to qualify for the World Cup in 1974, going on to finish third that year. Poland would accomplish the same result in 1982 where they also finished in third place beating France 3–2. Poland's largest win was over Norway with a score of 9–0 until the 10-0 win against San Marino on April 1, 2009. Poland also won the gold medal in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, and the silver medal in 1976 in Montreal as well in 1992 silver medal in Barcelona. They first qualified for the European Football Championships in 2008, although they will compete as joint hosts in 2012 European Football Championship.
4. Polish Cup The Polish Cup in football (Polish: PucharPolski) or officially RemesPucharPolski, is an elimination tournament for Polish football clubs, held continuously from 1950, and is the second most important national title in Polish football after the Ekstraklasa title. Due to mass participation of teams, the tournament is often called The Cup of the Thousand Teams (PucharTysiacaDruzyn). Participation is open to any club registered with the Polish FA, regardless of whether it competes in any league in the national pyramid. Reserve and oldboys teams are also eligible, with reserve teams particularly reaching the final on two occasions (and winning it once). The Cup is popular among lower level teams, as it gives them a chance to play better known sides. In some cases, the underdogs even reached the final, with the most famous example being CzarniŻagań, which in 1964–1965 season lost the final game 0–4 to Górnik Zabrze. Lower league clubs have to enter regional qualification rounds and the winners of these join the teams from the first and second division in the competition proper. Each tie is decided by a single game which is held at the lower league side's stadium. The final used to be a single match, but 2002–2006 it was contested over two legs, Italian style. Since 2007, the Cup has returned to the single-game final. First edition of the Polish Cup took place in 1926, but it was quickly abandoned. In the late 1930s, the President of Poland's Football Cup (1936 - 1939) was organized, which featured teams of the Polish Football Association's regional districts.
5. Polish National Football Team UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying - Poland vs Armenia in Kielce The Polish National Football Team was the winner of the 1972 Olympic Football Tournament, as well as a runner-up in 1976 and 1992. Poland has made seven FIFA World Cup appearances (1938, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 2002, 2006) and achieved great success, finishing third at both the 1974 World Cup in Germany and the 1982 World Cup in Spain. The junior team has also achieved success on the international stage, finishing third at the 1983 FIFA U-20 World Cup Final, fourth at the 1979 FIFA U-20 World Cup Final and fourth at the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup Final. Co-host of UEFA Euro 2012 with Ukraine Poland will host the UEFA Euro 2012 along with Ukraine in 2012. It will be the first time Poland has hosted an event of this size.
6. Volleyball The Polish Volleyball League (Polish: PolskaLigaSiatkówki), is the highest level of men's volleyball in Poland, a professional league competition for volleyball clubs located in this country. It is overseen by ProfesjonalnaLigaPiłkiSiatkowej S.A. (PLPS S.A.). It is currently a 10 team league that plays a 18 game schedule from September to March. The regular season is followed by playoffs, with the winner earning the mistrzostwoPolski (little shield). It is one of the best volleyball leagues in Europe. According to the latest rankings of European volleyball leagues done by the ConfédérationEuropéenne de Volleyball, the Polish league is ranked 3rd best. The competition was called Klasawydzielona, Ekstraklasa, 1 ligaSeria A in 1954-2000. Since June 30, 2000 this is professional league - PolskaLigaSiatkówki.
7. Speedway Poland is one of the major teams in international speedway and are 2007 senior and junior world champions. They are managed by MarekCieślak and the current captain is multiple Grand Prix winner Tomasz Gollob. 2008 Team National team motorcycle A members of 2008 Team was approval on December 17, 2007 by MainCommission for Speedway Sport (Główna Komisja Sportu Żużlowego, GKSŻ) whichis a part of thePolish Motor Union (Polski Związek Motorowy, PZM). Team The Poland national speedway team were a major force in the opening years of the tournament, rivalling Sweden to win 3 out of the opening 7 championships in the early 60s. They are currently one of the best teams in the world having won in 2005 and 2007. Key riding members of the title wins include Tomasz Gollob, AndrzejWyglenda and AndrzejPogorzelski who all managed 3 world cup wins.
8. Handball The Poland national handball team are the national handball team of Poland, controlled by the Polish Handball Association (ZwiązekPiłkiRęcznej w Polsce), that represents Poland in the international matches.
9. Rally In Poland for many years held Polish Rally Championship (RajdoweSamochodoweMistrzostwaPolski) RSMP are played from 1928. The Rally of Poland (RajdPolski) is the second oldest rally in the world after the famous classic Rally Monte Carlo. Between 1998-2001 the level was the strongest in Europe because racing many great drivers in WRC cars. For a poor policy PZM rallies have lost rank, but they are still popular in Poland.
10. Othersports Amateur Radio Direction Finding is a sport that combines the skills of orienteering with the skills of radio direction finding. ARDF in Poland is organized by the PolskiZwiazekKrotkofalowcow. Cycling in Poland Bandy is still a very small sport in the country. Poland made their 1st international appearance 2006 at the U-15 World Championships for boys in Edsbyn, Sweden. The team consisted of players from Gizycko and Krynica-Zdrój. Orienteering is a popular sport that combines cross-country running with land navigation skills in the woods. Orienteering in Poland is organized by the PolskiZwiązekOrientacjiSportowej . Polish American Football League (PLFA - pl. PolskaLigaFutboluAmerykańskiego) is the league of the American Football in Poland, founded in 2006. American football is arguably fastest growing sport in Poland.