Halina Zdebska-Biziewska

Halina Teresa Zdebska-Biziewska, née Wróbel (21 May 1960, Ryglice – 17 March 2018, Kraków), was a Polish sports and Olympic activist, a doctor habilitated in physical culture sciences. From 2013 to 2018, she served as the chairwoman of the Fair Play Club of the Polish Olympic Committee. In her youth, she was a volleyball player.

Childhood and education Halina Teresa Zdebska-Biziewska was born on 21 May 1960 in Ryglice. She attended primary school in Kraków, where she developed an interest in sports from an early age, often representing her school in local and regional competitions. In 1984, she completed postgraduate studies in pedagogical preparation at the same academy.

On 21 September 1995, she obtained a doctoral degree in physical culture sciences with her dissertation titled Bohater sportowy. Studium indywidualnego przypadku Bronisława Czecha (1908–1944) [The Sports Hero: A Case Study of Bronisław Czech (1908–1944)], supervised by . Between 1998 and 2005, she conducted national methodological and training workshops for physical education and sports teachers. A year later, she co-authored with Andrzej Stanowski the book Małysz: Bogu dziękuję (Małysz: I Thank God), dedicated to the biography of ski jumper Adam Małysz. In 2004, she authored the epilogue to Józefa Ślusarczyk-Latos' poetry collection Lot nad przepaścią (Flight Over the Abyss).

She was an expert at the Manager Training Center of the Academy of Sport Education in Warsaw In the academic year 2014/2015, she initiated the establishment of the Olympism Workshop within the Institute of Social Sciences. and from 2001, to the Polish Olympic Academy.

In 2014, she was part of the editorial team for the book Czysta gra: Fair play (Clean Play: Fair Play), which was also available in English. In 2014, as a representative of the Polish Olympic Committee, she participated in the 20th European Sports Congress in Riga, and in 2015, she attended the International Scientific Seminar The Church and Sport in Vatican City. In 2016, during the 22nd General Assembly of the European Fair Play Movement in Vienna, she was elected to the movement's board.

In January 2018, she represented Poland for the last time at the reporting and electoral session of the Pierre de Coubertin International Committee in Lausanne.

Death and commemoration

Halina Zdebska-Biziewska died after a brief illness on 17 March 2018 in Kraków. She was buried in the family grave at the military cemetery on Prandoty Street in Kraków (plot XCIII-18-31), which is part of the Rakowice Cemetery.

Awards In 1984, Zdebska-Biziewska was awarded the Silver Badge of AZS-AWF Kraków, and in 1988, she received the Gold Badge of the Kraków District of the Polish Volleyball Federation.

In 1996, her doctoral dissertation was honored by the Polish Olympic Committee with the Bronze Olympic Laurel Award in the category of scientific and popular science works. In 2002, she was honored by the Mayor of Kraków, Andrzej Gołaś, with the title "Friend of Sport" for her contribution to the development of physical culture in Kraków.

On 19 September 2005, she was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit by the President of Poland, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, for exemplary and exceptionally conscientious fulfillment of professional duties. In 2009, she received the 90th Anniversary Medal of the Polish Olympic Committee. She was also awarded the 30th Anniversary Medal of the Polish Olympic Academy.

Private life Zdebska-Biziewska was married to and had two children – a daughter, Joanna, and a son, Wojciech. Her interests included classical music, theatre, literature, and sports. She was fluent in foreign languages: English and Russian.