Editor’s note: The writer is a DePaul student who has recently been studying in KrakêÑÔ_w, Poland.

Just as controversies surrounding the Sochi Winter Olympics quietly lose momentum in the media, uneasy murmurs grow louder around KrakêÑÔ_w’s city centre as public debates amass over Slovakia and Republic of Poland’s dual bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. This March, the five cities competing to host the Winter Olympic Games – Kazakhstan’s Almaty, Polish KrakêÑÔ_w, Norwegian Oslo, Ukrainian Lviv and Chinese Beijing – submitted a detailed International Olympic Committee Questionnaire, which will be reviewed before the Executive Board meeting this July. As the date of this meeting that shortlists the candidate cities nears, the need to hear the demands of the Polish people greatens.

Walking through the scenic Rynek Gêóowny, onlookers watch members of KrakêÑÔ_w Przeciw Igrzyskom, or Krakow Against Games, energetically protest. At the moment, Polish authorities claim that 87 percent of the Polish people support the games taking place in KrakêÑÔ_w. However, this does not appear to be the case when speaking with locals. There is, in fact, a great deal of opposition voiced against KrakêÑÔ_w being the host city for the games. Conversations constantly return to criticism and concern over the excessive costs and consequentially furthering of KrakêÑÔ_w’s debt; the necessary infrastructure to be built that will go largely unused after the games; and an attitude of deep irreverence toward being the host city.

The tragic plight of the Polish stems from a turbulent history of citizens left without choices and options to be heard. Although Polish cities have everything to offer from delicious food to beautiful scenery to exquisite culture, the fact remains that conversations at the dinner table have spread to outrage in the streets. Locals like the way the city is now, and do not want it to change. Officials must question their desire to force a city to change that is finally independent and peaceful.

Protesters hope to bring awareness to the public, and specifically Bogusêóaw KoêóÔ_mider, KrakêÑÔ_w’s City Council’s Chairman. KoêóÔ_mider stated on March 14 that KrakêÑÔ_w would withdraw from the biddings if the population does not support it. With opposition demonstrations increasing and 6,500 citizens having so far signed the petition to a referendum, we, the people of KrakêÑÔ_w, hope that the world will hear our critical apprehension toward hosting the twenty fourth Winter Olympics, and hope that the International Olympic Committee will select a candidate city supported by the actual inhabitants of the area.

The IOC should take a scrutinizing look at the other four cities, and leave KrakêÑÔ_w alone.