The long-awaited host city contract for the Kraków-Małopolska 2023 European Games has been signed today with a focus on setting a "sustainable blueprint for the future".

Małopolska in Poland is set to receive PLN16 million (£2.9 million/$3.5 million/€3.4 million) by the end of 2023 to promote tourism in the area during and after the European Games.

The addition of aquatics disciplines to the 2023 European Games was among the topics of discussion at a meeting between leading Polish sports officials and International Swimming Federation (FINA) President Husain Al-Musallam.

The Polish Government has granted further funding for the 2023 European Games targeted at three projects in Kraków, with the city's Mayor Jacek Majchrowski insisting he does not envisage any issues with regards to the signing of the binding hosting contract.

The European Swimming League (LEN) and International Swimming Federation (FINA) are seeking to have aquatics disciplines added to the programme for the 2023 European Games.

European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Spyros Capralos revealed that the organisation has received "Initial interest" from Western European countries in hosting the 2027 European Games, and insisted the continental body remains "cautiously optimistic" for Kraków-Małopolska 2023.

The International Federation of Teqball (FITEQ) has made its presence felt here at the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Vuokatti, bringing along two teq one tables for use by athletes to promote awareness of the sport in the build-up to its European Games debut in 2023.

European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Spyros Capralos has claimed that he is "confident" that next year's European Games in Kraków-Małopolska will take place as planned, in spite of a growing exodus of refugees from Ukraine to Poland.

Polish Teqball Federation vice-president Kajetan Listkiewicz has been appointed to a newly formed Social Council of Sport in Poland, which will advise the Ministry of Sport and Tourism.

A residents’ association in Kraków has called for funding for the 2023 European Games to be reallocated to support relief efforts in Ukraine.

The Mayor of Kraków Jacek Majchrowski has ordered the establishment of a coordination team to assist with the Polish city's co-hosting of the 2023 European Games, which is to collaborate with an Organising Committee headed up by Michał Langer.

Councillor Łukasz Maślona, a member of the Kraków for Residents group, has launched an attack on the city's hosting of the 2023 European Games, arguing that the money needed to stage the event could be spent on more pressing issues.

Polish Olympic Committee (POC) leaders have met with European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Spyros Capralos at Beijing 2022 for further discussions about next year's European Games.

A letter of intent has been signed by Poland’s Minister of Sport and Tourism, Kamil Bortniczuk, confirming support for the 2023 European Games in Kraków and Małopolska.

Councillors in Kraków have dismissed a motion for the city to withdraw from staging next year's European Games.