Tokyo 2020. Olimpic and Paralympic qualifications of students, graduates and employees of the University of Szczecin

The aim of this article is to present an analysis of the current qualifying standards for the 32nd Summer Olympics and the 16th Paralympics, Tokyo 2020 (2021). The article takes account of athletes who are students and graduates of the University of Szczecin in their respective sports disciplines, as well as sports restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the article presents trainers, physiotherapists, employees and graduates of the University of Szczecin who are working with athletes who meet the qualifying standards or plan to compete in sports events to meet the standards, for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. If their athletes qualify for the Games, they will become members of, or potential candidates for, the coaching and medical staff of the Polish Olympic and Paralympic team participating in Tokyo 2020 (2021). This article serves as a continuation of research and analyses on the participation of student athletes, coaches and physiotherapists who are graduates of the Higher School of Pedagogy in Szczecin (later: University of Szczecin), in the Summer Olympics and Paralympics. For the first time in the history of the modern Olympic Games, the event has been postponed: Tokyo 2020, although retaining its name, will take place the following year. This decision is a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The research material consisted of 14 individuals: eight athletes, five trainers, and one physiotherapist. Out of the eight analysed athletes, four of them – Patryk Dobek, Michał Gadowski, Piotr Lisek and Marcin Lewandowski - have already achieved qualifying standards which enables them to participate in the Olympic Games. The Paralympic qualifications in rowing, won by Michał Gadowski, have guaranteed coach Tomasz Kaźmierczak and physiotherapist Beata Buryta’s participation in the 16th Paralympics Tokyo 2020 (2021).