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Obajtek accuses Orlen of lacking support for athletes, citing Justyna Franieczek as an example. Orlen denies the allegations.
On Tuesday, the former CEO of Orlen took to social media to accuse the current management of the company of not providing adequate financial backing to athletes. He pointed to the rejection of a partnership proposal for track and field athlete Justyna Franieczek as a case in point. However, Orlen countered by noting that Daniel Obajtek held the CEO position when the athlete’s applications were declined three times.
„Support for athletes? Individual contracts? According to Tusk's 'apolitical experts’: unnecessary,” wrote Daniel Obajtek, the former CEO of Orlen, on Tuesday on the X platform. „One of the athletes whose contract the ORLEN Group chose not to renew is Justyna Franieczek – a world and European champion,” he continued. He shared a video featuring the athlete stating, „that during Daniel Obajtek's tenure, Orlen functioned at a completely different level.”
„I aspire to demonstrate to myself and others that we can achieve a great deal. However, circumstances have shifted, and under CEO Daniel Obajtek, Orlen functioned at a markedly different level. There was increased funding, support for these athletes, and numerous medals. Now, that’s no longer the case. The government has changed, we lack sponsors and funding, and it’s an exceedingly difficult situation for athletes. Many have stepped away from sports,” Franieczek remarked in an interview with Obajtek.
After a few hours, Obajtek received a reply from the Orlen press office, also on the X platform, which stated that „at the time when these three negative decisions were rendered, you remained the president of ORLEN, Mr.
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„The athlete submitted the application three times”
„Her team recently reached out to me to emphasize what's taking place, or rather, what's NOT taking place, within our national corporation. There is a lack of communication, a lack of vision – that sums it up,” Daniel Obajtek added in his post. Later, the former Orlen CEO also shared a link to an interview with Franieczek.
„As a reminder: in 2023, ORLEN backed nearly 100 individual athletes, over 70 sports clubs, 11 associations, 2 committees and almost half a million children,” he added.
However, according to Orlen, the collaboration with the athlete ended in December 2022, at which time Daniel Obajtek was still serving as president.
„The only contract with Ms. Justyna Franieczek related to cooperation with the ORLEN Foundation and lapsed in December 2022. Subsequently, the athlete sought support from the ORLEN Foundation three times (January 1, October 8 and 28, 2023), and all requests were denied,” explained the company’s press office.
Daniel Obajtek was at the helm of Orlen from February 2018 until February 2024. His removal from the management board was decided by Orlen’s supervisory board after Obajtek made himself available to the supervisory board.
Who is Justyna Franiczek?
Justyna Franieczek is a finalist in the Tokyo Paralympic Games and has won multiple medals at the World and European Championships in the 400 meters event.
Justyna Franieczek Tytus Żmijewski/PAP„I am an individual with an intellectual disability,” we read on the website of the Polish Paralympic Committee (PKPar). In 2011, the athlete was involved in a severe car accident. „In 2011, I experienced a tragic car accident which resulted in nearly 30 percent loss of my health,” she noted. She also battled cancer for eight years. Currently, she is working on regaining her fitness and hopes to participate in the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
