Poland's foreign minister Radosław Sikorski presented a group of artists, athletes and art instutions with the annual diplomas of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for their outstanding contribution to the promotion of Poland in the world.
Danuta Isler reports
The diplomas have been granted since 1970, at first only to Poles and Polish expatriates, for their services to popularise Polish culture around the world. Since 1999 any person - regardless of nationality or country of origin - who contributes to the international promotion of Poland in such areas as culture, politics, science or economy.
This year's recipients include a co-creator of the Center for Polish Culture and Language in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku, a translator of Polish poetry into the Russian language, curators of the Polish Pavillion at the Venice Bienale, a renowned photographer, an IT specialist, Indian and American writers and the Wilno Heritage Society as well as the first Polish athlete ever to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the first Polish-born player to appear in the NBA finals.