Municipal authorities of Bialystok have signed a deal with local football club Jagiellonia to promote and support the Polish city's efforts to combat racism and intolerance. 

The deal, in which the municipality will provide €830,000 to Jagiellonia until 2015, is part of the city's strategy to prevent racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance for the years 2014 to 2017.

The club's players will be involved in a wide range of events and activities to raise awareness of local youth on ways to combat racism.

"By the end of the year, Jagiellonia will host 12 such events, some of them in cooperation with the city's promotion office and non-governmental organisations," said Jagiellonia's spokesperson Agnieszka Syczewska in an interview to the local news agency Polska Agencja Prasowa.

The initiative was formulated last year after a racist attack against a mixed Polish-Hindu marriage, in the Polish city, brought the issue of racism in Bialystok to the attention of local media.

The city's logo will also be included on the teams' jerseys, banners at the club's stadium and various advertising materials.

"We feel great pride and satisfaction from the fact that Jagiellonia Bialystok will be promoting our city. We are persuaded that the deal will be beneficial to both sides," the club said.

From Inside World Football