Gdynia celebrates its 80^th birthday

On 10 February 2006 Gdynia celebrated its 80^th anniversary of granting city rights. Among many invited guests there were representatives of sister cities of Gdynia: Aalborg (Denmark), Baranovichi (Belarus), Kaliningrad (Russia), Karlskrona (Sweden), Kiel (Germany), Klaipeda (Lithuania), Kotka (Finland), Kristiansand (Norway), Kunda (Estonia), Plymouth (UK), Seattle (USA), Syndicat Mixte de la Côte d'Opale (France). During their stay in Gdynia the official guests from sister cities participated in the meeting with local authorities, visited the Pomeranian Science and Technology Park in Gdynia as well as the new seat of the Gdynia City Museum and the Polish Navy Museum. Additionally, they participated in the opening of the photo exhibition entitled: "Gdynia - Plymouth 1976 - 2006" organized in the Exhibition Hall of Gdynia City Museum. The exhibition was prepared on the occasion of the 30^th anniversary of twinning link between Gdynia and Plymouth. It displayed photos of Gdynia photographers, Marzena and Maurycy Smierzchalscy, as well as the photos presenting the history of official contacts between Gdynia and Plymouth. The key ceremony of the celebrations of the 80th Birthday of Gdynia was the solemn Session of the City Council in the Music Theatre. During the Session the Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski Medals in recognition of outstanding services to Gdynia were awarded. Among the awarded persons was Peter Smith, Chairman of Plymouth-Gdynia Twinning Panel. Mr Smith initiated the cooperation between Plymouth and Gdynia in 1975. During 30 years of his involvement in the twinning link, Mr Smith has been an outstanding ambassador of Gdynia on the British

Isles. The Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski Medal was also awarded to Janusz Sniadek, Chairman of Independent Self-Governing Trade Union "Solidarnosc", inhabitant of Gdynia and shipyard worker and to Przemyslaw Dyakowski, musician, creator of Sax Club and co-originator of the "Ucho" Club in Gdynia.

During the City Council Session the "Time for Gdynia" prize for the best investment of the year 2005 was also awarded. This prize was given to the company "Vectra" S.A. for the complex of a rehabilitation centre and a hotel and an office building. The main celebrations of the 80^th birthday of Gdynia were held in February. However, our city is celebrating all year round, organizing many events for the inhabitants and tourists.