“POLE OF THE YEAR IN ITALY AND AROUND THE WORLD” – 10th EDITION 2026

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Article 1

General Provisions

§ 1

These Regulations define the terms and conditions of the 10th edition of the competition entitled “Pole of the Year in Italy and Around the World”, addressed to Polish citizens and persons of Polish origin, as well as individuals particularly distinguished for their contribution to Polish affairs, residing in Italy, Poland, and worldwide.

The Regulations enter into force on the date of commencement of the Competition, namely 2 January 2026.

§ 2

The Organizer of the Competition is the Union of Poles in Calabria (ZPwK).

ZPwK may invite institutions, associations, natural persons, and other entities willing to provide support in the organization of the Competition.

§ 3

The aim of the Competition is to activate the Polish diaspora and local communities in Italy and worldwide; to present achievements and strengthen the positive image of an enterprising Pole who achieves success in various fields of social, economic, cultural, artistic, or scientific life; and to showcase the activities of representatives of other nationalities (foreigners) in support of Poland and the Polish community.

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Article 2

Competition Categories

§ 1

The title Pole of the Year 2026 shall be awarded in the following seven categories:

• ARTISTIC ACTIVITY
• CULTURAL ACTIVITY
• SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY
• SOCIAL ACTIVITY
• ECONOMIC AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY
• POLE BY CHOICE
• YOUNG TALENT OF THE POLISH DIASPORA

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Article 3

Candidates

§ 1

Candidates in individual categories must meet the following requirements:

ARTISTIC ACTIVITY – artists (e.g. singers, composers, music bands, painters, sculptors, jewelers, fashion designers) and others who, through their activities, promote Polish culture, are socially active in various fields, or organize cultural and artistic events.

CULTURAL ACTIVITY – creators, writers, poets, directors, actors, journalists, and others involved in cultural promotion; socially active individuals; organizers of internationally recognized cultural events; outstanding persons achieving above-average results who, through their work, promote Polish culture abroad among both Poles and foreign audiences.

SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY – individuals who have achieved outstanding results in scientific research or education; who contribute to shaping a positive image of Poland, Polish science and technology, and to the education of Polish youth and the Polish diaspora.

SOCIAL ACTIVITY – individuals distinguished for their philanthropic work for Polish communities; persons acting voluntarily, gratuitously, and selflessly; initiators of social initiatives; individuals or organizations conducting social activities for Poles or the Polish diaspora, with particular attention to social needs.

ECONOMIC AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY – entrepreneurs conducting business activity for at least two years; achieving success through development on local or international markets; through economic or commercial cooperation with Poland; creating new jobs and actively engaging in the life of the global Polish diaspora while supporting Polish community initiatives and building a positive image of Polish entrepreneurship.

POLE BY CHOICE – a foreign national distinguished in promoting Poland, its history and traditions, and knowledge about outstanding Poles; a person who, through cultural, scientific, business, or social activities, contributes to promoting the good name of Poland and Poles.

YOUNG TALENT OF THE POLISH DIASPORA – candidates aged 18–28; Poles or persons of Polish origin residing abroad; Poles residing in Poland but actively working for the Polish diaspora in one or more fields; candidates who inspire others and serve as a positive example of social engagement within the Polish community.

§ 2

Candidates in the first five categories may only be Polish citizens or persons of Polish origin (residing in Poland or abroad).

Candidates for the POLE BY CHOICE category may include representatives of other nationalities, international organizations, politicians, diplomats, and other individuals.

§ 3

Ethical and Social Conduct

This provision applies to all seven categories.
Candidates must demonstrate exemplary conduct, respect democratic, social, and cultural values, and act in the spirit of social and civic responsibility.

§ 4

The following persons are excluded from candidacy:

• winners (first place) of the previous edition of the Competition;
• members of the Jury of the current edition.

§ 5

Each candidate may be nominated in only one category per edition.

§ 6

Participation in the Competition is open exclusively to adult candidates.

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Article 4

Submission of Nominations

§ 1

Candidates may be nominated using the forms available on the Competition website by:

1. Polish associations, Polish institutions or organizations, Polish diaspora or international organizations legally registered in their area of activity, Polish diaspora media;
2. Polish citizens or persons of Polish origin; citizens of other nationalities;
3. The Organizer of the Competition or members of the Jury.

§ 2

To submit a nomination, it is necessary to complete the appropriate form available on the website and send the application, including all required information, by e-mail to:
polakroku.wlochy@gmail.com
k.gralinska@yahoo.it

A necessary condition for accepting a nomination is the candidate’s consent to participate in the Competition, submission of a recent photograph of good quality and resolution, and acceptance of these Regulations.

Participation in the Competition also constitutes consent to the public disclosure of the candidate’s name and surname, as well as the free use and dissemination of the candidate’s image and motivation statement (description of achievements) on the website “Pole of the Year in Italy and Around the World” – 10th Edition 2026 and in other mass media.

The consent covers the use of data and information solely for purposes related to participation in the Competition.

Consent to participate in the Competition implies the obligation of personal attendance at the official Award Gala or delegation of an authorized representative.

§ 3

The deadline for submitting nominations is 31 May 2026.

§ 4

Each properly submitted nomination, justified by a description of achievements, accompanied by the candidate’s consent and photograph, shall be admitted to the Competition.

If necessary, the candidate may be requested to submit a complete curriculum vitae and documentation confirming achievements.

The Jury reserves the right to reject nominations that do not comply with these Regulations.

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Article 5

Jury

§ 1

The Jury consists of an odd number of members (minimum 5), representing the Organizer and Partners of the Competition, winners of previous editions, and representatives of prestigious institutions and international organizations.

A Jury member nominated as a candidate who accepts the nomination shall be excluded from Jury work and replaced by another person.

Personal data of Jury members shall be disclosed publicly during the Award Gala, subject to their consent.

§ 2

The Secretary of the Jury, together with the Verification Committee, reviews nominations for compliance with the Regulations (first selection).
By 10 June 2026, the Secretary submits the list of candidates to the Jury members.

§ 3

The work and deliberations of the Jury are confidential.
Each member declares impartiality and confidentiality.

Decisions of the Jury are final and not subject to appeal or review.

§ 4

The Jury may, on its own initiative, award a Special Prize to a natural or legal person for lifetime achievements.

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Article 6

Competition Schedule

§ 1

The Competition is announced on 2 January 2026.

§ 2

The deadline for submitting nominations is 31 May 2026.

§ 3

In exceptional circumstances, the Organizer may decide to extend the submission deadline for all or selected categories.

§ 4

After the nomination period ends, the Secretary of the Jury prepares a list of valid applications and submits the competition materials to the Jury by 10 June 2026.
This stage concludes with a secret vote of the Jury.

§ 5

In the event of any changes to personal data, the candidate is obliged to notify the Secretary immediately, no later than within 7 days of the change.

§ 6

Each Jury member casts a vote by 20 June 2026.
The Secretary counts the votes and the Verification Committee verifies the results.

In the event of a tie, a re-vote is held. Final results are submitted to the Chairperson of the Jury.
The names of the winners remain confidential until the Final Award Gala.

All members of the Jury and Verification Committee are obliged to maintain confidentiality of the results until their official announcement at the Final Gala.

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Article 7

Awards

§ 1

The Jury awards prizes in each of the seven categories.

Additional prizes, distinctions, or certificates may also be granted by the Organizer, the Jury, or the Partners.

§ 2

• 1st Prize: statuette “Pole of the Year in Italy and Around the World – 10th Edition 2026”, designed and created by the renowned Polish artist Krzysztof Renes.
• 2nd Prize: commemorative plaque.
• 3rd Prize: commemorative medal.

Prizes are not exchangeable for any other equivalent.

§ 3

The Competition Secretary invites the winners to attend the Final Award Gala.
Awards are presented during the official ceremony, and winners are required to collect their prizes in person.

In justified cases of absence, the prize may be handed to an authorized representative.

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Article 8

Final Provisions

§ 1

The Organizer reserves the right to amend these Regulations. Any amendments will be published on the website: www.polakrokuwewloszech.com.

§ 2

Matters not regulated herein shall be decided by the Author and the Organizer of the Competition.

§ 3

Submitted documentation will not be returned.

§ 4

The Organizer does not cover travel or accommodation costs related to the award ceremony, unless special funds (project-based, sponsorship, or other) are allocated for this purpose.