A funny thing happened in Sopot at the weekend. Two high jumpers - Kamila Licwinko of the host nation Poland and Maria Kuchina chose to share the gold medal at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Indoor Championships after finishing on 2.00 metres with identical records of failure.

Such a decision was, of course, their right. IAAF Rule 181- 8d states that in such a situation, athletes in the high jump and pole vault have the choice of doing this or, if not in full agreement, proceeding to a jump-off where all involved attempt the next height up, and then, if the medals are still not decided, working back down the heights to resolve the issue.

It might have been different - as was the case in Gothenburg last year when, at the European Indoor Championships, pole vaulters Anna Rogowska, the Polish world champion of 2009, and Britain's Holly Bleasdale found themselves in an identical situation and the Briton elected to press on with a jump-off she eventually won.

But on this occasion, as Licwinko explained, there was no jump-off. "I talked to Kuchina and we agreed that we stand on the podium together," Licwinko said. "I wasn't sure if it's according to IAAF rules but it turned out there's a chance. The chief referee told me that it's possible and we both have gold.

"It was me who asked the Russian jumper for her opinion and she admitted she didn't want to jump any more. I was out of power as well, I was really exhausted and on top of that I twisted off my ankle a little bit during the first jump so there was no point to take the risk. If the Russian wanted to continue I would take the challenge."

Kamila Licwinko en route to a shared gold in the high jump at the Sopot 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships ©AFP/Getty Images

As it was, the result in the Ergo Arena was double joy as both athletes paraded around the blue track in glee, brandishing their national flags over their shoulders. The host nation in particular was delighted with the first gold from a Polish woman at the World Indoors since it got officially underway in 1987. Although they subsequently lost a bronze in the men's 800 metres when Marcin Lewandowski was disqualified for stepping inside the track, the silvers won by Lewandowski's friend and team-mate Adam Kszczot and in the women's 800m by Angelika Cichocka earned them a respectable sixth place in the medals table. Tick that box.

On such statistics can rest initiatives to bring further sporting events to Poland - which is bidding to hold the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Kraków - something the Minister for Sport and Tourism, Andrzej Biernat, noted when he spoke at the Arena on Sunday.

Polish celebrations after the men's 800m - but a disqualification ruled out the bronze of Marcin Lewandowski (left), leaving only the silver won by Adam Kszczot ©Getty Images

"The World Indoors in Sopot has been prepared perfectly. The venue is perfect. The charm of the city itself the seaside resort just adds to the impression. The authorities of the city have risen to the occasion as they always have," said the Minister. "We showed the international community that we know how to run big sport events. And all the important visitors share this opinion in informal talks. They are all delighted and assure us that it is the first World Championships with such a pleasant ambiance.

"I'm a big fan of track and field and I hope event like this can boost this sport development in Poland. Each medal creates a role model for young people.

"The experience is particularly important for us with the Volleyball World Championships to be held in Poland and with us applying to host Winter Olympics."

As Jurgen Grobler, Britain's hugely successful head rowing coach, told insidethegames last month: "I always think the other medals are looking a bit better if you have also top medals." He adds: "If you have a collection of non-winning medals it is not the same. It is important to have at least one gold medal."

Britain's chief rowing coach Jurgen Grobler has strong views on the importance of having at least one gold medal in a championship collection ©Getty Images

So the gold was particularly valuable to a host nation which had committed so much time and money to bring the most recent edition of these Championships to an Arena built symbolically on the boundary of Gdansk and Sopot and which will soon play host to Tina Turner - whose best known song, Simply The Best, celebrates clarity rather than parity when it comes to being top dog.

Given the current crisis in Ukraine, there was, too, a welcome political echo in a decision jointly reached by a Russian athlete and one from a country very obviously championing the cause of Ukraine's new Government in Europe.

Around the Ergo Arena, many spectators wore blue and yellow stickers offering Polish support for the cause of a neighbour whose path to independence from the old Soviet Union has had such similarities with their own.

"Solidarnosc z Ukraina" the stickers read, with the names of three supportive Polish cities - "Gdansk Sopot Gdynia" – at the bottom.

To try and keep politics and sport apart is a hopeless task indeed; but it is good to see sport triumphing over politics.

Mike Rowbottom, one of Britain's most talented sportswriters, covered the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics as chief feature writer for insidethegames, having covered the previous five summer Games, and four winter Games, for The Independent. He has worked for the Daily Mail, The Times, The Observer, The Sunday Correspondent and The Guardian. His latest book Foul Play – the Dark Arts of Cheating in Sport (Bloomsbury £12.99) is available at the insidethegames.biz shop. To follow him on Twitter click here.