EU presidency: sports officials discuss large sporting events at Budapest meeting

The Hungarian EU presidency has started work in the area of sports with a two-day meeting of sports directors of the European Union in Budapest focusing on the heritage of great sports events and sports as a way of promoting healthy living.

Ádám Schimdt, the state secretary for sports, in his opening speech thanked the Spanish and Belgian presidencies for their work and pledged the Hungarian presidency’s determination to build on their achievements.

Schmidt noted that Hungary is experienced in organising large sporting events, and the government felt it was important “to look at the long-term effects of those events in society”. Meanwhile, the government sees nurturing health through sports as important an issue as elite sports, and has launched a programme to promote community sports, a ministry statement quoted him as saying.

Georg Haeusler, the Director for Culture, Creativity and Sport in the European Commission greeted the meeting on behalf of the commission. Former President Pal Schmitt, honorary member of the International Olympic Committee, introduced the panel discussions.

The panel discussion on the social effects of large sports events was held with the participation of Ágnes Ancic-Valkai of Hungary’s International University Sports Association (MEFS), Lilla Szijj of the Hungarian Olympic Committee, Anita Urr, secretary general of the Hungarian Paralympic Committee, Gábor Schmidt, a deputy state secretary of the defence ministry, and Sándor Wladár of the Hungarian Swimming Federation.

Addressing another panel, Márton Gyulai, the sports director of World Athletics, talked about the effect of large sports events on the economy, community building and on promoting healthy lifestyles.

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