The U.S. Mission to Poland's Sports UP initiative marked the opening of the Polish American football season with a notable event at Wroclaw Olympic Stadium. Josh Crabtree from the U.S. Consulate in Krakow and soldiers from Bravo Company of the 407th Civil Affairs Battalion participated in this grand opening, which is part of celebrating a century of US-Polish diplomatic relations.
The event featured a match between the Wroclaw Panthers and the Bialystok Lowlanders. During the ceremony, Consul Josh Crabtree emphasized sports as "yet another thing that connects our communities and our two nations." He performed the official coin toss while both Polish and American flags were displayed during their national anthems.
American soldiers engaged with attendees by distributing prizes and taking photos during halftime. This activity supports the U.S. Embassy’s Sports UP initiative aimed at fostering stronger ties through sports, particularly promoting American sports culture among Poles, especially youth. The initiative underscores values such as teamwork, responsibility, fitness, and tolerance.