World Aquatics temporary HQ inaugurated in Budapest

On Monday, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign affairs and trade minister, said that World Aquatics had inaugurated its temporary headquarters in Budapest after relocating from Lausanne. The governing body is set to move its entire global headquarters to the Hungarian capital by 2027.

In his speech at the inauguration ceremony, Szijjártó noted that a few years ago, the Hungarian government and World Aquatics signed an agreement that included establishing a global training and education center.

Szijjártó noted that the office inaugurated on Monday is temporary, and the World Aquatics Centre will be inaugurated next year. By 2026, he said, the entire global headquarters will be ready, and all aquatics-related activities will be managed from Budapest from 2027, according to a ministry statement.

Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade (left) and Hussein al-Mussalam, President of World Aquatics and Director General of the Asian Olympic Council (right) inaugurate the temporary office of World Aquatics on Alkotmány Street, Budapest, 11 November 2024.

The minister said it was an important goal to bring similar international organisations to Hungary, noting that with the relocation of World Aquatics, the country will host four sports federations.

He also underlined the importance of talent management, noting that the government is establishing a scholarship that will allow 200 athletes to study at Hungarian universities from 2027. Szijjártó said Hungary was proud that a Ugandan scholarship recipient has already qualified for the Olympics, adding that, hopefully, more young swimmers will take advantage of such opportunities.

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