Hosszu case: Swimming federation head thanks Orban for offer to help resolve dispute

Budapest, January 8 (MTI) – Head of the Hungarian swimming federation Tamas Gyárfás on Friday thanked Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for his offer to help resolve a dispute between the federation and Katinka Hosszú, a world and European swimming champion.

Orbán told public Kossuth radio in his regular Friday interview everyone involved was excellent sports personality. Given Hungary’s preparations for the next Olympics the case is a national issue, Orbán said, adding that he had offered his “goodwill” to mediate between the parties involved.

“Somebody please tell me what the government can do to ensure that cooperation between a lot of good people is not made impossible,” Orbán said.

Hosszu first criticised the activities and attitude of the swimming federation at a press conference before Christmas. She reiterated her criticism at a Wednesday press conference, adding that she had refused to sign a contract with the federation she received in December.

Swimming coach Laszló Kiss tendered his resignation in the wake of Hosszu’s criticisms of the federation but Gyárfás has insisted that Hungarian swimming needs both Hosszú and Kiss.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters