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Good technical facilities and a high level of sport result in a big interest in this area of
life. Basketball matches played by the Polish Champion, and many times Vice
Champion – Anwil – gather thousands of spectators and fans from all around the
region. Perfect technical parameters and high functionality of the largest sports facility
– The Champions’ Arena make it possible to organise many national and international
events in Włocławek. A substantial part in creating this function of Włocławek is played
by the Włocławek Aeroclub. Not only does it train pilots, but it is also an organiser of
numerous important sports events of both national and international range. One of the
examples might be the European Championships of flying models, or championships of
hot air balloons.
Owing to the aforementioned factors, the zone of influence of the city spans a long
way behind its closest vicinity.
Trade
The period of the last 5 years has seen the emergence of Włocławek as an important
trade centre. Numerous factors have contributed to this process with erection of three
big shopping malls connected with hypermarket chain outlets (Real, Tesco, Kaufland)
being the most important. A substantial number of customers are attracted to these
shops by their wide assortment, and aggressive promotional campaigns. Analyses
conducted in July 2005 revealed that residents of neighbouring counties make up
approximately 35% of the total number of customers. Nearly a half of them visit
Włocławek at least once a week to do shopping. The rest come to the town once a
fortnight and a tiny percentage does it less frequently. Wholesale outlets are also an
important element of the city’s commercial function. Many small retailers from the
neighbouring towns and villages treat them as the main source of supplies for their
outlets.
Business-related services
At present the city is home to numerous branches and affiliates of commercial banks
operating in our country. The total number of financial institutions present on the
Włocławek market reaches approximately 20. They also offer a wide range of services
to persons living out of Włocławek. It particularly concerns Bank Ochrony Środowiska
(Environment Protection Bank), Bank Gospodarki Żywnościowej (Food Management
Bank), Kredyt Bank (Credit Bank), PKO BP, BZWBK and PeKaO S.A., which widely
cater for the needs of residents of other counties. Detailed determination of
geographical distribution of these services is not possible due to lack of necessary
data.
There are also institutions dealing with the economic life and business servicing. One
of them is the Kujavian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This organisation enlists
more than 100 business entities from the city and the neighbouring counties offering a
wide range of business-related services also to other entities.
Specialised healthcare
The Voivodship Hospital in Włocławek is a specialist healthcare centre for inhabitants
of the counties of: Włocławek, Lipno, Radziejów, Aleksandrów and Rypin. The Regional
Oncology Centre in Włocławek has the same function serving the inhabitants of the
town and the neighbouring regions. There are also a number of private units offering
healthcare services frequently used by the residents of the neighbouring communes
and counties.
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