The history of the regatta course on Lake Malta dates back to 1917, when a group of patriotic Poznań residents announced a competition for a sports center for youth. It was no coincidence that the Malta area was chosen – it was here, during the Prussian occupation, that the youth of Poznań gathered to practice various sports under the guidance of "Sokół" instructors. Unfortunately, it took nearly 35 years for this vision to become a reality. In 1952, the Malta hosted large international rowing and canoeing regattas, held as part of the Youth and Student Festival.
The venue immediately gained recognition, primarily due to its unique and almost perfect location – the regatta basin is situated nearly in the city center, on the edge of expansive green areas. Numerous hotels and student dormitories ensure a variety of accommodation and dining options, and Poznań, as a city known for traditional international fairs, offers excellent transport connections to all of Europe and the world.
As the regatta course eventually no longer met international standards for holding rowing and canoeing
competitions, a major modernization was carried out between 1981 and 1990, including deepening the entire lake, reinforcing the shores, and building new facilities to support the course. This modernization was made possible thanks to the persistence of a small group of activists, led by the then-President of the City of Poznań, Andrzej Wituski.
The plans were executed based on the concept, designs, and supervision of a former athlete – a rower from the Academic Sports Association in Poznań, a Polish Rowing Champion – architect Klemens Mikuła. His years of experience as a competitive rower, who competed on various courses and under different conditions, are particularly evident in the functionality and equipment of the facilities for athletes, judges, and course staff. It is no surprise, then, that the venue is not only beautiful but, above all, highly functional today.