17th FINA World Championships in Budapest: Synchronised swimming to be held on the City Park Lake
Index.hu writes that the visuals of the mobile pools and stands for the events held in the City Park have been released. We knew that the organisers were planning to have some events on the City Park Lake, but no one could really imagine how it would look like. Well, it turned out that the visuals are available on the website.
“Finally there will be more green areas in the City Park” as the members of a City Park protector Facebook group write satiristically. And they are right, the bottom of the pools designed for the lake is definitely green on the following visual.
It turns out from the attached text that the stands will be able to fit 5000 spectators. They summarise the story of the lake and the ice-rink, and then get down to the matter: “Even though the ice-rink has been the home of many winter sport events, it will show a new side of her at the 2017 FINA World Aquatics Championships. The new challenge is posed by the organising of synchronised swimming events, which come hand in hand with the performance of two mobile pools. The unique premier might even be the start of a new tradition because of the given from the picturesque environment, the monuments of Heroes’ Square, the Vajdahunyad Castle and the Műcsarnok (Art Gallery).”
Unfortunately, they don’t write whether or not the pools will float on the water (not likely) or stand in the lake (likely), and whether or not there will be water in the lake during the period (probably not). Nevertheless, there were people who wondered how the structure would take the rampage or the simple movement of spectators if it was to be floating on the lake. Others wondered if the old concrete bed could take the pressure of a higher water-spout if the structure was to be built on the underlay.
We don’t know the answers to these questions, but Index has a reasonable point: how will 5000 people get in and out the venue quickly, without a hitch? Nonetheless, this amount of people wouldn’t be much more than what the museums will attract. So the idea might even work if it’s well thought out.
Photos: www.fina-budapest2017.com
ce: bm
Budapest 2017 – American trainer Shane Tusup: „If you are not moving forward, you moving backwards” – VIDEO
Exactly 141 days are back until the 17th FINA World Championships and the home of the swimming and the diving competitions Danube Arena has been presented. Katinka Hosszú was also present at the event with her husband and coach, Shane Tusup.
It will be a fantastic event, we are really excited about the fact how the World Championships will be hold at Budapest. We will get to compete at that kind of level at home soil. It is a fantastic venue. We look forward to compete, we look forward to get here train, and it should be good. It would be a lot more space for the clubs and for the athletes preparing and get ready for Budapest.
After the 2012 London Olympics, Shane has developed a unique training plan. With the help of this plan, Katinka and Shane are one step before the world. The American recognises that the swimmers World Cup series, the lot of competition and the traveling lifestyle is the same like what the tennis players are doing.
-Actually, it does not really work that way, we have been preparing for an event like this for about the last 20 years. It does not just happen overnight so we have been preparation for World Championships already. She is ahead of schedule. She is doing really well. She is definitely had where I had expected her to be. She is making a lot of the changes and adaptations that we need that we planned on making and She is making a lot quicker than we have hoped. So hopefully everything goes well, knock on wood, cross our fingers and nothing goes sideways. It should be a positive thing but it is sport. Everything always goes sideways, the plans never go plan A, we always go plan Z, so we will see what happens.
-The beginning of March we are going to be competing in Marseille in the Golden Tour and then we will finish the Golden Tour in Minsk. Also, competing in Nordstorm and a few other smaller meets throughout Europe and the area.
They never think in time result and that is exactly why the preparation does not become convulsive.
The centre of the FINA World Championships is ready in Budapest – PHOTO GALLERY
We have our plan, we have where we are going to want to be. There is nothing significant. I wouldn’t say we have to have the world record before that obviously, the process of moving along as we go. There are different things to accomplish each meet so it is not always about the time. The time is always important, but not everything. Were quite confident how we should treat different things and we really understand the complexity of what we are doing. We can kind of put ourselves out there and challenge her and see what happens so it would be fun to see.
She always fighting with the challenges. We are constantly trying to push the envelope and try to find new ways and more ways to improve. If you are not moving forward, you moving backwards, so we are always trying to push the envelope and move forward in a positive direction. She is running a company, pretty successful company so far. She is doing a lot of projects, she is involved a lot of different aspects in the country. She wants to be more involved. We want to be doing even more. Iron Aquatics is growing faster than I ever believed. The goals just shrink just because she won the Olympic games. They are kind of expanding and growing and developing so the challenges constantly before in that direction.
„It can be the most balanced water polo world championships ever” – Budapest 2017
The 17th World Championships Men’s and Women’s Water Polo Draw was held on the 24th of February at the Sofitel Chain Bridge Hotel in Budapest. Here are some commentary about the results of the draw.
Several head coaches from the men’s field were present at the event and after the „thrills” they spoke about their feelings.
Alessandro Campagna, head coach of Italy:
Giuseppe Porzio, head coach of Canada:
„I think for Canada it is a good draw because we have Brazil, Kazakhstan and Montenegro. It is a young team and if we wanna go ahead we have to do our best. I think for us it is ok but we should work a lot, because we changed a lot in the team. We are a good team, but my players are young and in Canada lots of them leave the water polo. But we have two or three players who are 24-25 years old and if someone of them will come back, may be Justin Boyd or John Conway we would be stronger. May be the group C with Serbia, Greece and Spain is really strong. In group B Italy and Hungary will fight for the first place. Hungary will play at home with a big pressure but I gonna wish all the best to my friend, Tomi Märcz and his team. I know it is not easy to play your best with young players.”
Dejan Savic, head coach of Serbia:
Gianni Lonzi, President of the FINA Technical Water Polo Committee:
The women’s water polo tournaments’ groups:
Group A: Italy, Brazil, Canada, China
Group B: New Zeeland, South Africa, Spain, USA
Group C: Japan, Netherland, Hungary, France
Group D: Australia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Greece
The men’s water polo tournaments’ groups:
Group A: Brazil, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Canada
Group B: France, Australia, Italy, Hungary
Group C: Spain, Serbia, Greece, South Africa
Group D: USA, Japan, Croatia, Russia
The first placed teams of every group will be automatically reach the quarterfinals, till the every second from the groups will have to compete against the teams finished at their groups at the third places to get into the best 8 teams.
For the quarter-finals:
C2–D3
C3–D2
A2–B3
A3–B2
Quarter-finals:
A1–C2/D3
B1– C3/D2
C1– A2/B3
D1–A3–B2
Semi-finals:
Winner of A1–C2/D3–Winner of B1–C3/D2
Winner of C1– A2/B3–Winner of D1–A3–B2
Read more information about Budapest 2017 HERE.
Photo: MTI
Water Polo Draw: the official team schedule of the water polo tournament is out! – FINA – Budapest 2017
The 17th World Championships Men’s and Women’s Water Polo Draw was held on the 24th of February at the Sofitel Chain Bridge Hotel in Budapest. Both of the men and women water polo tournament will have 16 teams competing against each other; the women group match will start on the 16th of July till the men will only start on the next day, on the 17th of July. The final of the women tournament will be held on the 28th of July, the men tournament will finish on the 29th of July at the Hajós Alfréd Swimming Pool.
The draw ceremony of the FINA and the Organising Committee of the 17th World Championships was opened by Tamás Gyárfás warm welcoming words. High interests accompanied the ceremony, several head coaches were there: Dejan Savic (Serbia), Ivica Tucak (Croatia), Giuseppe Porzio (Canada), Dejan Udovicic (United States) and Alessandro Campagna also took part of the draw.
Tünde Szabó dr., the Minister of State for Sport highlighted in her speech at the opening the great importance of the World Championships in Budapest this summer:
‘This event will be one of the biggest sports events ever hold in Hungary, this international event will give so much opportunity for the Hungarian sport to show off and guide the spotlight on us, to make history here. We are standing in front of an event which will be an unforgettable event not only for the fans but for the coaches and the athletes as well. ‘
Dimitris Diathessopoulos, the member of the FINA Bureau welcomed the viewers with warm greetings.
Gianni Lonzi, the first person of the FINA Water Polo Technical Committee was guiding the event, first of all, the women polo team had the draw, later the men polo team had the spotlight. Members of the previous Hungarian World Champion water polo teams (István Szívós – 1973 Belgrade, Attila Vári – 2003 and Norbert Madaras – 2003, 2013 Barcelona, Orsolya Szalkay – 1994 Roma and Rita Drávucz- 2005 Montreal) and many Hungarian representatives of the Hungarian Aquatics sport have been chosen to play part at the draw, for example Szofi Kiss synchronised swimmer, Villő Kormos European bronze medallist diver and Dániel Gyurta Olympic and World Champion swimmer.
The water polo tournaments will be played according to the draw from the 16th of July with the women’s matches and one day later with the men matches. (A number was also picked for each team that were drawn out of the 4 main ranking hats, which defines the position of each team within their group.)
The women’s water polo tournaments’ groups:
The men’s water polo tournaments’ groups:
The first placed teams of every group will be automatically reach the quarterfinals, till the every second from the groups will have to compete against the teams finished in their groups at the third places to get into the best 8 teams.
The 17th World Championships Water Polo draw was followed by another two water polo tournament draws of FINA happening this year. The men junior team will be playing in Belgrade between the 5-13th of August and the women team will be playing in Volos between the 3-9th of September.
The 19th Men’s Junior Water Polo Championship’s groups:
Group A: United States, Russia, Greece, American qualifier, Iran
Group B: Netherland, American qualifier, Spain, Japan, Croatia
Group C: New Zeeland, Australia, American qualifier, Serbia, China
Group D: Italy, Hungary, Egypt, Canada, South Africa
The 12th Women’s Junior Water Polo Championship’s groups:
Group A: Japan, Russia, Hungary, Netherland
Group B: China, Australia, South Africa, Greece
Group C: Italy, Canada, American qualifier, Germany
Group D: Spain, American qualifier, New Zeeland, USA
The centre of the FINA World Championships is ready in Budapest – PHOTO GALLERY
Exactly 143 days are back until the 17th FINA World Championships and the home of the swimming and the diving competitions has been presented with the help of Hungarian athletes, such as Katinka Hosszú, Gergely Gyurta, László Cseh, Evelyn Verrasztó and Péter Bernek.
At the press conference István Tarlós, the Mayor of Budapest explained that this complex was built not just for the World Championships but, for the 2020 European Championships as well. He finished:
“The first world record at the World Championships has already born as this Arena became ready in record time”.
After the speeches, the Mayor and Balázs Fürjes, the Government Commissioner, responsible for top priority investments in Budapest, together gave the “key” of the Danube Arena to the three-time Olympic champion swimmer, Katinka Hosszú.
Cornel Marculescu, the Executive Director of FINA visited the event as well. In his speech he highlighted: “When I step into this beautiful arena, I do not feel like that this is a swimming pool, because next to the pool the space is always tight. Much more like a stadium. Spacious and beautiful.”
About the tight deadline: “Fourteen months ago, the Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán said Hungary will organise the World Championships. Two more years had passed, and the Arena is ready to receive the competitors, spectators. Probably only Budapest and Hungary capable for this. ”
“I wish, we can see the most successful FINA World Championships in July. Budapest and Balatonfüred got everything to absolve this.” – finished his speech the Executive Director of FINA.
After the press conference, the invited swimmers were asked to try out the warm-up swimming pool as now the Danube Arena belongs to the fans of Aquatics.
100 metres “later”, the divers came to inaugurate the new diving tower. Flóra Gondos and Barnabás Gács were the first two athletes, who could jump down from the platform with led-screens.
Finally, the press and the athletes walk through the swimming pool area.
“Water Town of Budapest, where the Danube is the center. That’s why I thought that this must be the name of the arena is accurately reflected. ”
Budapest is a Water Town where the Danube is the main sight. „That’s why we thought that the arena name is have to be Danube Arena.” – said Balázs Fürjes.
Photo: MTI
Pedestrian and bicycle bridge to be built in Budapest
As part of the planned buildings of the FINA 2017 World Aquatics Championships, a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Rákos-stream at Népfürdő street is to be built from the budget of the Municipality of the City of Budapest and with the help of national budget support.
The construction of the bridge, which is realised within the framework of the “Preparation and implementation of the FINA Rákos-stream bridge and its connected infrastructure” project by the investment of BKK Centre for Budapest Transport, aims to ensure the easy access to the venue of the event. The building of the bridge will start on Monday, 6 February 2017 and will last until 30 June 2017, after which pedestrians and cyclists will be able to use it. The net amount of the investment is HUF 308,867,685.
[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/6-5-kilometre-promenade-built-heart-budapest/” type=”big” color=”red” newwindow=”yes”] Related article: 6.5 KILOMETRE PROMENADE TO BE BUILT IN THE HEART OF BUDAPEST[/button]
Photo: BKK, budapest.hu
17th FINA World Championships in Budapest: Less than 150 days to go! – Flash mob VIDEO
Just as the athletes, the Budapest 2017 Organisers are also preparing with full throttle for the 17th FINA World Championships to be held between July 14 and 30 this summer. As anticipation builds, future volunteers joined in for a flash mob filled with fun to commemorate the 150 days to go milestone on February 14.
Despite the cold weather, nearly two hundred enthusiastic volunteers gathered at one of the most emblematic sights of Budapest, the St. Stephen Basilica to form the number 150 in the spirit of the countdown to the much-awaited FINA World Championships.
Volunteers are the heart and soul of the organisation of each great sports event, their dedication and joy already marks the 17th FINA World Championships, just five months before the start. These hard-working, enthusiastic people are not just aquatic fans, they would like to help Hungary, give something back, leave lasting memories for all international athletes and guests attending the Event.
Here is how the Budapest 2017 Volunteers celebrated the countdown on February 14:
The flash mob was attended by Edina Gangl, European champion goalkeeper of the Hungarian national women’s water polo team, who was amazed to see the crowd and gladly gave autographs and took photos with the volunteers gathered. Having one eye already on the challenge of the World Championships in front of home crowds this July, Edina thanked the volunteers in advance for all their work.
Lili and LaliLili and Lali has come home for this large-scale commemoration too, so the Hungarian audience could see them for the first time out in public. Needless to say, the two waterlilies are adored by everyone, around 120 different fan photos were taken after the flash mob.
Balatonfüred is an optimal venue for the FINA World Championships
The 2017 FINA World Championships and the FINA World Masters Championships will help the further development of the Balaton region – says Miklós Oláh, chief researcher of the Lake Balaton Development Council. Oláh has been living in the region for more than two decades, and regards researching the Lake Balaton and its surroundings as a mission in his life. The biggest sport event in Hungary’s history can give this process a boost.
Miklós Oláh cannot deny that he has fallen in love with Lake Balaton. The chief researcher of the Balaton Development Council has been working on projects that support the development of the region for more than 20 years, so he was very happy to learn that Budapest and Balatonfüred are hosting the 17th FINA World Championships and the 17th FINA World Masters Championships during the summer 2017.
‘Balatonfüred is a good choice, since it is an optimal venue for this event, and open water swimming has great traditions since 1820, the year of the famous Bay Swim of Baron Miklós Wesselényi’ – said Miklós Oláh.
‘There have been great developments in this region in recent years, such as the project called ‘The jewels of the bank of Lake Balaton I-II’. It has been an optimalised development, so it is about choosing an optimal location, optimal goals, functions as well as environmental and traffic conditions. All in all, I can say that Balatonfüred is the right choice for the open water events of the FINA World Championships.’
The city of Balatonfüred and its surroundings are very popular in July and August, the region offers many different events for tourists, but a major international event such as the FINA World Championships can create further ways of development. Miklós Oláh is convinced that the World Championships will serve as an outstanding promotional opportunity because the locals bring the attraction of the other seasons to the visitors’ attention, so many of them might return during the autumn, winter or spring to the ‘Hungarian Sea’.
‘There is no doubt that Balatonfüred and the surrounding cities will be full in that period, but the outer villages can also benefit from the Event. Especially, if they offer interesting, additional programmes for those who want to look around in the neighbourhood.’
Until the 90’s, 80 percent of the visitors at the Lake Balaton came from outside the borders – only 20 percent were Hungarian – this rate nowadays is the other way around. The FINA World Championships, however, can create a very special situation, since competitors, attendants and fans from many distant countries will also take part in the Event. These American, Australian, New Zealander, Brazilian or South African visitors will have the chance to discover the Balaton region, so they and many of their compatriots might return the years after to this breathtaking and unique location.
The Organisers of the 17th FINA World Championships were present at the 2016 European Aquatics Championships in London, at the Rio Olympics and at the 2016 FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships, already creating interest and drawing attention to the FINA World Championships to be held in Budapest and Balatonfüred this summer.
One thing is for sure: the FINA World Championships will be larger and more unique in every aspect from previous events at the Lake Balaton, so it will be something really special for the experts of the region and for all competing, watching or taking part in any way.
The open water swimming events of the 17th FINA World Championships will be held on July 15-16 and 18-21 in Balatonfüred. Click here for the complete schedule and tickets.
The open water swimming events of the 17th FINA World Masters Championships will be held between August 10-12. General spectator admission will be free of charge.
17th FINA World Masters Championships in Hungary: six months to go!
The chances for Budapest and Balatonfüred to host the biggest World Masters Championships in the Event’s history are really high! Since the registration process kicked off thousands of athletes signed up in the FINA General Management System. At these jamborees, representatives of masters age groups show their passions about aquatic sports, their commitment towards a healthy lifestyle and fair play. Together with the accompanying persons, family members and friends, tens of thousands will arrive in Budapest and Balatonfüred, making the Event a great touristic boom for the nation as well. In addition, fans will be able to watch previous Olympic, World and European champions of the various disciplines at the magnificent venues for free between August 7 and 20 this year, during the 17th FINA World Masters Championships.
Anyone who is above the age of 25 (30 in water polo) can compete at the FINA World Masters Championships, just have to be a member of an aquatic sports club that is registered with an FINA-affiliated National Federation.
Currently, the Italian city of Riccione holds the attendance record of the Event: 12 671 athletes competed there in 2012. Based on the forecasts, Budapest and Balatonfüred can outshine this number. Since the registration platform – the FINA General Management System – opened just a week ago, more than 2500 people started the process on-line sign-up process.
Swimmers will compete at the brand new Dagály Aquatics Arena and at the legendary Alfred Hajós Swimming Complex. World Masters silver medallist and two-time European Champion Dóra Cerva will compete in the 100m and 200m butterfly, 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley events in Budapest this year, as well as in the and in 4x50m mixed freestyle and medley relays.
‘The 200m medley is not sure yet, although this event is close to my heart as I won the silver medal in Riccione. My first international Masters event was the European Championships in Cadiz, in 2009 where I won the gold in 100m butterfly as I did in London, last year as well. In Spain, I collected two silvers also, while in London my tally consisted of one silver medal and one-fourth placement. I care more about the time result than the placement, I always try to be faster and faster.’ – added Dóra, who also talked about her motivation.
‘This Masters journey has not been a lonely one. We went to Cadiz together, my husband, my two children and my parents, the whole family, so that event was a summer vacation for us – and besides that, I swam a little. We usually put some days before or after the event wherever I compete, and the World Masters Championships is always an adventure for all of us. Of course, we love winning and racing is especially exciting but the main goal is to enjoy ourselves. It is also magical to race in the same venue where the professional athletes do before. Last year I watched the superstars at home on television but one week later I competed in the same pool. It is crazy…’ – Dóra Cerva expressed her joy about FINA’s decision which allows hosting the Masters Event together with the FINA World Championships.
Andrea Szeghalmi will arrive in Budapest from Transylvania, Romania and compete in the breaststroke swimming events, she was silver and bronze medallist at the national championships back in 1988 and in 1989.
‘I decided to take part in the World Masters Championships the moment I heard it will be in Budapest. The city is very close to us and a lot of our friends live there. The 50 and 100m breaststroke events are in my plan of course and I will participate in the 800m freestyle too – an event that my coach never allowed me to race before. Now I will make up for it and we also plan to compete in the 4x50m freestyle and medley relays, too. My first FINA World Masters Championships was in Montreal, in 2014 I didn’t go there to win, just wanted to enjoy myself. My motivation is the same now, I have not don’t have a lot of time to properly prepare for the races” – said Andrea who coaches children in theTirgu Mures Sports School Club (Marosvásárhelyi Sportiskola).
‘My goal is to show a good example to my daughter and to my swimmers in the club, I think I have been successful in that so far. We compete in a very special atmosphere, athletes come from all around the world to look for new friendships. It is awesome, sometimes even little miracles happen. Last year in London I met one of my old teammates who competing in Germany. We talked about the races and our wish was to swim in the same event and in the same heat.
And we were able to do it… in the 50m breaststroke event, we were in the same heat, that was fantastic.” – remembered Andrea Szeghalmi.
Fans will definitely have the chance to meet former great aquatic stars in the different disciplines of the 2017 FINA World Masters Championships from 7 to 20 August, but the most spectacular athlete of the event will be beyond doubt the 96-year-old Hungarian swimmer, Béla Bánki Horváth. The 18-time World and 29-time European masters champion will attempt to win some more medals this time in front of home crowds.
‘Of course, I would like to win some more gold medals. I have not decided yet in which events I will start. I am too old to travel to such a big event alone, so last year I was accompanied by one of my grandchildren to Kazan, and I will need the help of my elder daughter and my grandchild in Budapest this year.’
Béla Bánki Horváth, who also played water polo in the first division of the Hungarian League, decided to take part in masters swimming competitions following his retirement.
His first FINA World Masters Championships was the one held in Indianapolis in 1992, where he won a gold medal at the age of 72.
‘I have two mottos: the first one is: I will swim until I die because until I swim, I am alive. The other one is: I swim because I am healthy, but actually I am healthy because I swim. A well-known professor in the city of Szeged likes and uses this phrase, which suggests there is something to it.’
The Hungarian masters divers have already highlighted several times that the elite and the masters Championships will trigger a huge development in this sport. The development process is showed by the setup of the ‘Bubble’, which gives the opportunity for the first time to train during wintertime. There will be a lot of competitors at the World Masters Championships as well.
The masters Champion, Szilvia Sárközy will compete in the age-group over 40. She was 16 years old when her father brought her to the “Dagály Strand” (Dagály Pool Complex) to show her the basics. This year, the three-time European and World champion Szilvia can compete at the building next door, the Dagály Aquatics Complex.
‘I just cannot wait to step on the same springboard and dive as the stars of the FINA World Championships will have done days before. It is a unique opportunity that we can compete in the same venue, moreover, our children can watch us as well. My seven-year-old daughter, Sára has been amazed by diving for a year. I will enter seven events, and my goal is to win the gold medal in the 3m springboard event. Although it will not be easy because the American and Russian divers are very hard to beat! The mixed duet will be very unique, it will be more fun because we start for the first time. I train two times a week, but the most important is that I can keep my heart and soul in good shape even over 40. The freedom is the best feeling what I got in the air and in the water. It’s not a surprise that the number of masters divers keep growing continuously.’
There are three cities, Balatonfüred, Siófok and Keszthely around the Lake Balaton which have been applying for the non-official capital status of the region, but one thing is for sure: during the summer of 2017 Balatonfüred will be in the limelight thanks to the FINA World Championships and the FINA World Masters Championships. Competitors will have to swim a 3 km-long lap in Central Europe’s largest freshwater lake.
Thousands of masters swimmers, their attendants and family members from all around the world are expected for the event, so Balatonfüred will be a real multicultural city in that period.
According to Levente Nagy-Pál – coordinator of the open water swimming competition – the huge interest is guaranteed: Germans, Italians, French, Spaniards and Russians come from Europe with a large number of competitors, but many people from Brazil and the US, for example, will swim in the Lake Balaton, too.
‘A lot of people connect their sports experience with the surroundings: the charms of Hungary, Budapest and Lake Balaton are very attractive. The audience will be able to watch the competition from much closer, it will be a very impressive event to be part of.’
Levente Nagy-Pál does not only work as an organiser, he himself will enter the 10km event.
“The most fun is to meet again with those I used to swim together – these Championships will bring us together.’
The former Hungarian champion swimmer, Dr. Marcell Grundtner -currently the operative director of the Budapest 2017 OC – will also be there among the competitors. He will test himself not just in the open water, but at the Dagály Aquatics Arena also. In his view, the record of participants can be easily broken this year in Hungary.
‘The swimming competition programme has the biggest interest. In the first days of registration, athletes have already registered 3251 entries. In Kazan, that number was 210 during the same period. The competitors are ‘hungry’ for a great international competition and these World Championships will be an example of this. In addition, Hungary has an excellent attractive value for tourists, and the venues and facilities of the World Championships are gorgeous.’
Synchronised swimmers will compete at a breathtaking location during the Championships, on the Lake of the City Park (Városliget), next to the world famous Vajdahunyad Castle.
Júlia Győri from used to practise synchro professionally for 15 years. She is a several-time national champion and has been on the Hungarian national team seven times throughout her career. She competed at both the 2006 and 2010 European Championships in Budapest, where the home crowds cheered unforgettably. It is almost unbelievable, but every single athlete from the Hungarian teams that participated in those European Championships will compete at the World Masters Championships in Budapest this summer. Júlia Győri has a special, additional motivation factor as well because she is a mother of two young children.
‘In 2006, I was only 17 and this was my first big international competition. Nobody really knew the power of Hungarian synchronised swimming, neither us. It is unforgettable to compete in a full arena. The fans were already cheering standing up as we walked in. The speaker even needed to emphasise that the audience needs to sit down before the performance can start. After our event, we gave many-many autographs for hours. I know we will have another great experience at the World Masters Championships. It gives me a huge boost to jump into the pool in front of my two beautiful children and to show my husband why I am in love with this sport for more than 15 years. Back then, we felt that every minute of the practice was so hard. Nowadays, we enjoy every second of it. Competing in the City Park in front of home crowds and family will be like a fairy tale.’
Two-time Olympic champion and World champion Attila Vári will participate in the World Championships not just as organiser of the water polo discipline’s tournament, but perhaps as a player, too.
‘At the FINA World Masters Championships, we have to serve a lot more competitors than during the FINA World Championships, while the Event has strong touristic aspects as well.’
His son was just one-year-old and his daughter was not even born yet when the Hungarian men’s national water polo team won their second consecutive Olympic gold at the Athens Games in 2004 – with Attila Vári on the team.
‘When my kids were younger they came to my games to see their daddy playing. Obviously, it is not the same as if they saw me today with their more maturity. The World Masters Championships is truly a very good family and community-building event.’
The 17th World Masters Championships will begin in exactly six months, on August 7, 2017. The first day of the competition programme will already see events in diving, synchronised swimming and water polo. General admission is free of charge for all spectators.
Photo: FINA, MTI
6.5 kilometre promenade to be built in the heart of Budapest
Index.hu wrote two years ago on their Urbanist blog that we would be able to walk along the Danube from the Liberty Bridge until Dagály Bath on a 6.5 kilometre promenade in 2-3 years’ time. Now they report that it seems like this is going to happen, at least new details, dates and visuals were published on budapest.hu. Let’s see the facts.
The part in question falls between the Parliament and Rákos Stream, and it will be developed in two phases this year:
- The northern section (between Dráva Street and Dagály) will include a 4 metre wide pedestrian walk, a 2×1.25 metre wide cycling lane, and the two will be divided by a set-up lane. Even though it has been argued, car traffic will be led away. Construction works started in October and they will be finished in the spring of 2017. The section between Dráva Street and Árpád Bridge will be called Moscow Promenade.
- The southern section (between Dráva Street and Margaret Bridge) has to make do with less space, because car traffic will be allowed there on an almost 10 metre wide lane (2×1 traffic lane in the width of 3.5 metres, with a 3 metre wide parking space, and a 3 metre wide service lane with 45° parking facility). A 6 metre wide promenade will be constructed for pedestrians. However, there’s no sign of cycling lanes. The plan was to let cyclist ride from Kossuth Square until Dagály, but according to the official explanation, the designers realised that they have to watch out for pedestrians. So they took away space from cyclists instead of cars or pedestrians. Construction works started last week and they are expected to be finished in spring.
The section between Kossuth Square and Margaret Bridge will be renewed after the World Aquatics Championships in July. To sum up, the change is absolutely positive, walking along the Danube on a longer period will be great – even if we missed the chance to balance the different traffic branches in regions closer (aka more valuable) to the city centre.
Photos: www.budapest.hu
Copy editor: bm
Olympic bronze medalist Boglárka Kapás: Unbroken success
According to offical page of FINA-Budapest2017, for the 23-year-old, Hungarian swimming star 2016 was the best year in her career. She won the bronze medal at the Rio Olympic Games and before this she won four gold medals at the European Championships. Her goal for the World Championships in Budapest is to get closer to the unbeatable, American Katie Ledecky and exceed her last year’s performance in Kazan, where she reached the third place. Ideally three silver medals are the realistic expectation for her.
Fort the young star, Hungary’s first youth Olympic champion (Singapore, 2010) the number five the lucky number, since she has started swimming lessons at the age of five, she woke up at five o’clock for many years and her role model is Krisztina Egerszegi, the five-time Olympic champion.
‘She is my role model, since I have started swimming. We have a videotape about her, I watched it so many times the tape broke. I don’t know when the world will see a talented swimmer as her again. It is already an honor, that people mention us together.’ – said Boglárka Kapás, who is one of the favourite swimmer of the Hungarian fans, thanks to her outstanding performances and charming personality.
She was just 15 and the youngest member of Team Hungary at the 2008 Olympic Games in Bejing.
Four years later she won her first gold medal in 800-meter freestyle at the European Championships in her hometown, in Debrecen and clinched the sixth place at the Olympic Games in London. Three years later she improved 15 seconds compared to her national record over 1500m in Kazan and she reached the third place with this time. She won the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Rio as well, over 800 meters and she reached the fourth place in the 400m freestyle final. Before the Olympics, she won no less than four gold medals at the European Championships held in London.
In Budapest, she is planning to race in the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle events at the FINA Aquatics World Championships in July, and she could have decisive role in the 4×200 freestyle relay as well. She has put great deal of thoughts to tune in for these World Championships, focusing on the time results and the ranks with realistic, reachable goals.
‘I would like to get closer to Katie Ledeczky’s time results, I have to get faster with 12 seconds. It means yearly 3 seconds if we think in a four-year plan, Katie is unreachable at the moment. My goal is an 8:13.00 time at the 800m freestyle. It would be a reasonable goal to reach Katie at the Tokyo Olympic Games but I am, we are still on the way to get in shape for the next Games. Winning three silver medals, that’s my plan to achieve in Budapest at the next World Championships and if we bring up the relay, there anything could happen.’ – said Boglárka Kapás about her chances.
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Her coach, Balázs Virth shares her view on her plans in 2017 to approach the time results of the golden medals. ‘She will start with the 400m freestyle then the 1500m and 800m freestyle events. She starts the World Championships with the shortest distance event which means she will have to have speed and stamina. We are planning to achieve personal best results in all three races.’
The 17th FINA World Championships is approaching rapidly, it will have an immersive value and extra motivation for the Hungarian swimmers, like Boglárka Kapás to compete against all the other swimmers from all around the world in front of home crowds.
She is, currently student of the Eötvös Lóránd University at the Faculty of Psychology, and social responsibility is really important to her. In this spirit, she was happy to accept to be a honorary volunteer of the 17th FINA World Championships.
Boglárka Kapás
Clubs: BVSC (1999-2016), Újpesti TE (2016-)
Coaches: Balázs Virth, Ferenc Kovácshegyi
Best results: Olympic bronze (800m freestyle), World Championships bronze (1500m freestyle), 5 times winner of the European Championship golden medal (400m, 800m, 1500m, 4x200m freestyle relay)
Main Events: 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relay
17th FINA World Championships in Budapest – Batthyány Square: standards set high for High Diving
The construction of the venue of the 17th FINA World Championships’ High Diving competitions has already started in December 2016. The works will have minimal inconvenience for the public transportation on the Buda side of the capital. The FINA World Championships will be one of a kind, a sparkling spectacle in the heat of the summer, the High Diving competitions are scheduled between July 28 and 30.
The discipline of High Diving, inspired by traditional cliff diving was first included in the competition programme at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona back in 2013. During the contest men dive in from 27 meters high, while women do from 20 meters. To where exactly, that strictly depends on the Organisers and the available natural resources and facilities.
The athletes dived into natural water in Barcelona and Kazan, however in Budapest they will jump into a temporary 6-meter-deep round shaped soft pool which will be specifically built for the World Championships. The competition will take place right in front of the Hungarian Parliament, which will let the audience experience a lavish view unfolding in front of their eyes through the TV broadcasting and on the spot at the grandstand set up on the upper embankment of River Danube – it will feel like the divers are jumping directly into the river.
According to the Hungarian National Asset Management Inc., during the first phase of the project, the reinforced concrete platform, the basic edifice will be finished, the construction will be finished by the end of April 2017.
To create this platform, which has 17×47 meter floor area, they will use 315 m3 concrete and 125 tons of reinforced concrete. The foundation will be formed into the river bed of the Danube, building it from an anchored boat on the river.
FINA-Budapest 2017 – Visualization FINA-Budapest 2017 – VisualizationThe 33-meter-tall and 10-tons-weigh tower and the pool will be placed right after finishing the platform, the placement of the tents and containers necessary for the event will follow afterwards.
The temporary grandstands, the FINA Competition Office and the Press Room will be established at the upper embankment, the building will start early in June. The training of the High Diving is set to start from the 25th of July, various parts of the project will be handed over scheduled till then.
As the Hungarian National Asset Management Inc confirmed, solving the traffic management was a main viewpoint during the project planning. The affected areas will be partially or completely shut down in the worst-case scenario for the shortest time possible. The expected closures, diversions will be announced by the implementer according to the schedule of the investments.
The diving tower, the grandstands, the pool and other event-related facilities will be demolished, dismantled after the World Championships. However, since Budapest will organise the European Aquatics Championship in 2020, it seems appropriate to retain the platform due to professional and economic reasons if High Diving will be included in the competition programme.
The 17th FINA World Championships’ High Diving events are scheduled between the July 28 and 30. Detailed schedule and tickets are available on the eventim.hu website!
The construction of the venue of the 17th FINA World Championships’ High Diving competitions, 2017 January:
Photo: MTI Photo: MTIPhoto: FINA, MTI
Presentation on the current state of the World Championships’ preparations to the FINA Executive
On January 17, the Budapest 2017 Organising Committee gave a presentation on the current state of the World Championships’ preparations at the FINA Executive’s meeting in Lausanne.
The briefing was presented by Ms. Éva Szántó, Executive Director of the Organising Committee – this time Co-chairman Tamás Gyárfás was listening as part of the audience, acting in his role as FINA Vice-president and member of the Executive.
Among the topics introduced by Executive Director Szántó were the progress, state and exact plans of the 17th FINA World Championships’ venues.
The FINA Executive was really impressed by the photos recently taken at the Dagály Aquatics Complex, showing the breathtaking speed of the construction and the readiness of the venue, as well as by the images showcasing the locations of the synchronised swimming competitions in the City Park (Városliget) and the open water swimming in Balatonfüred.
Thanks to the successful arrangements of the past months, a sufficient number of hotel capacity to high standards await all participants, guests and visitors of the World Championships in July, despite the dates’ high frequency due to the main tourist season and other busy events, such as the Formula 1 race weekend.
To wrap up the presentation, the Budapest 2017 Organising Committee’s Executive Director gave an overview to the leaders of FINA on ticket sales. As Ms. Szántó highlighted, the last time tickets were sold in such a great amount directly after the opening was in 2009 when the world-famous rock band Metallica gave a concert in Hungary. On top of this unprecedented popularity, the OC has been glad to note that so far 20% of the tickets were bought internationally.
Photo: Péter Molnár
Six months to go until FINA World Championships in Hungary!
Press release – In the coming months the Budapest 2017 Organising Committee will work hard to host the most successful aquatics showdown ever! The countdown has started – not only the OC, but the favourite Hungarian athletes are preparing also. Moreover, national stars of other sports have great expectations to watch the FINA World Championships in Hungary, too!
Krisztián Berki – Olympic gold medallist gymnast
Although I really like to go to the beach, I can’t really swim. I will cheer for everybody on the Hungarian team, but especially for the Gyurta brothers (Dániel Gyurta and Gergely Gyurta), we are really good friends. Hosting the 17th FINA World Championships is a wonderful opportunity for both Budapest and Balatonfüred, as well. These two cities will be able to show their greatness and their love for sports. The success of this prestigious international event is so important also because we are bidding to host the 2024 Olympic Games, too.
Gergely Kiss – three-time Olympic gold medallist water polo player
The past year was all about Rio, because of the Olympic Games. This year, everything will be about Budapest. For Hungary – where everybody loves sports – it means more than anything. We can only be proud of it! I don’t want to reveal just yet how I will participate. Let it be a surprise!
Áron Szilágyi – two-time Olympic gold medallist fencer
About my connection to water: I drink it and I take shower a every day. I would not say that I am a good swimmer, but I would not drown. I, personally like to follow all the Aquatic events. With my colleagues, we already planned to create a new sport: fencing in pool, but the rules are not official yet. Luckily, I know how it is to be part of a World Championships in Hungary. The Hungarian fans are the best in the world and I am pretty sure that they will help our athletes with all the power and support!
Shane Tusup – Katinka Hosszú’s coach
2016 was an amazing year! What are your expectations for 2017?
We are ready for the World Championships. We are well on time because we started the trainings earlier, but we always just concentrate on the next step!
What do you think this year will look like?
We believe in the work we have done before. We are training as hard and as seriously we can. Our goal was always to reach the maximum at the competitions, and this have not changed!
The most important competitions of the year is the FINA World Championships! One of the main events for Katinka, the 400m IM will be held on the last day. Does this mean special preparation?
It means we need to work really hard. At the end of a long competition we will have this extremely hard event. The situation was the same at the World Championships in Kazan and in Barcelona, too. In Rio, this race was on the first day which was very nice, but the Olympic schedule is always different, there is nothing we can do. We just do our job, and prepare as hard as we can.
Can you guess the number of the medals Katinka and you shall win in Budapest?
No, we never think in medals or in number of medals. The situation is ideal if you get medals because of your effort, but it never matters. Our aim is to bring out the best in Katinka in every aspect.
Katinka Hosszú – three-time Olympic gold medallist swimmer
Your coach, Shane did not want to predict, but how many medals are you planning to win at the World Championships in 2017?
I do not want to predict either, we are mentally very strong, so you can’t break us! I don’t have an exact answer, we are always thinking about the time results, and of course we have our goals specific for the Championships as well, and we concentrate on these. We never count medals before a competition, but I can tell you, I would like to stand on the podium more than one time!
Budapest and Hungary hosts the World Championships. What does this mean to you?
I think these Championships will easily be as exciting as the Olympic Games in Rio were, they were definitely be very important. The Event is going to have a huge positive effect for Budapest, so many tourists, competitors and coaches will come to this magnificent city!
How are your preparations going so far?
I think it is going better, way much better than at this time last year. It is encouraging for us! I hope we can stay away from any kind of injuries and illnesses, and we can reach our goals.
Photo: photo: Péter Molnár
Hungarian water polo team to play host to world’s best in 2017
2017 promises to be a busy year for Hungarian water polo. Already in January club sides will be playing European matches, the men’s and women’s OB I championships also recommence this month, in May Budapest will play host to the Champions League Final Six for the second year running, and then in the summer the World Aquatics Championships are coming.
The most prestigious event taking place this year is the FINA World Aquatics Championships, to be held in Budapest and Balatonfüred between 14th and 30th July. The water polo competition will be held at the Hajós Swimming Complex. Margitsziget will thus play host to the world’s best with men’s Olympic champions Serbia and women’s champions USA among the competitors. The water polo will take place between the 16th and 29th July with the women’s final being held on the 28th and the men’s final one day later. Both Hungary’s men and women are in with a shout of a medal, and the atmosphere promises to be electric.
The Masters World Championship follows (between 7th and 20th August), with recent greats taking to the water, whilst in late May the Champions League Final Six will take place in Budapest, not at the Hajós complex but at the brand-new Dagály Swimming Complex which will also play host to the World Championship swimming events. There may well be as many as three Hungarian sides taking part, whereas last year’s Final Six at the Hajós Complex saw Croatians Jug Dubrovnik victorious, Szolnok come third and Eger sixth.
There are still seven rounds to go in the Champions League group stage with some tough matches ahead for Szolnok, Eger and OSC. Ferencváros have made the last four of the Euro Cup and take on Montenegrins Jadran Herceg Novi in January and February and have one eye on the final which will be held on 22nd March and 5th April with Verona or Oradea providing the other finalists.
Three women’s sides are also still involved in European competition, UVSE, Dunaújváros and BVSC all playing in the Euro League qualifying round between 13th and 15th January for a place in the last eight. The winning quarterfinalists will compete in the Euro League Final Four whereas the four losers will go forward into the Euro Cup Final Four. UVSE are among the favourites but Dunaújváros and BVSC could also make it into the last eight.
The Women’s OB I championship recommences on 7th January and the men’s on the 14th, with the play-offs scheduled for April and May as we find out if Szolnok (in the men’s)and UVSE (in the women’s) can retain their titles.
Tamás Märcz will make his debut as coach of the Hungarian national team at the Volvo Cup (10th-12th February), whilst Attila Bíró’s women’s start the year with against Italy in a key World League qualifier.
Provisional fixture calendar for 2017
January 13–15: Women’s Euro League qualifiers
Group A (Sabadell): Sabadell (Spain), Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia), BVSC, Vouliagmeni (Greece)
Group C (Piraeus): Olympiakos: Olympiakos (Greece), Dunaújváros, Utrecht (Holland), Lille UC (France)
Group D (Messina): UVSE, Padova (Italy), Leiden (Holland), Messina (Italy)
January 18: Eger–Hannover (Germany), OSC–Brescia (Italy), Szolnok–Nice (France), Men’s Champions League, group-stage matches
Jadran Herceg Novi (Montenegro)–Ferencváros, Men’s Euro Cup, semi-final 1st leg
January 24: Hungary–Italy, Women’s World League
February 8: Barceloneta (Spain)–Eger, Olympiakos (Greece)–OSC, Szolnok–Spandau (Germany), Men’s Champions League, group-stage matches
February 10–12: Volvo Cup (men’s international tournament)
February 18: Eger–Barceloneta (Spain), OSC–Olympiakos (Greece), Spandau (Germany)–Szolnok, Men’s Champions League, group-stage matches; Ferencváros–Jadran Herceg Novi (Montenegro), Men’s Euro Cup, semi-final 2nd leg
February 21: Hungary–France, Women’s World League
February 25: Women’s Euro League, quarter-final 1st leg
March 1: Hannover (Germany)–Eger, Brescia (Italy)–OSC, Nice (France)–Szolnok, Men’s Champions League, group-stage matches
March 11: Women’s Euro League, quarter-final 2nd leg
March 22: Recco (Italy)–Eger, OSC–Spandau (Germany), Szolnok–Brescia (Italy), Men’s Champions League, group-stage matches
April 5: Eger–Partizan (Serbia), Olympiakos (Greece)–Szolnok, OSC–Nice (France), Men’s Champions League, group-stage matches
April 14–15: Women’s Euro Cup Final Four
April 19: Italy–Hungary, Women’s World League
April 26: Eger–Dubrovnik (Croatia), Szolnok–OSC, Men’s Champions League, group-stage matches
April 28–29: Women’s Euro League Final Four
May 25–27: Men’s Champions League Final Six, Dagály Swimming Complex, Budapest
June 6–11: Women’s World League, Super Final
June 20–25: Men’s World League, Super Final
July 14–30: 17. FINA World Championship, Budapest
August 7–20: 17. FINA Masters World Championship, Budapest
August 20–27: Women’s Junior European Championship, Belgrade
September 3–9: Women’s Junior World Championship, Volos
September 10–17: Men’s Junior European Championship, Gzira, Malta
Photo: MTI
Tens of thousands of tickets sold for 2017 FINA World Aquatics Championships
Budapest, January 6 (MTI) – Sports fans have already bought thousands of tickets for the 2017 FINA World Aquatics Championships which Hungary will host in July, the daily Magyar Idők said on Friday.
Some 21,000 tickets have been sold for events at the Dagály Aquatic Centre, the main venue for the championships, and almost 7,500 at the Hajós Alfréd swimming complex, the organisers told the paper. Among the ticket buyers are almost 6,000 foreigners.
Demand has been highest for events on July 24 in which three-time Olympic champion Katinka Hosszú is expected to compete.
The Dagály centre can accommodate 12,000 visitors and the Hajós Alfréd complex can seat 8,000. There will be seating for 1,200 for diving events at a venue on the Danube bank, for 4,000 in the City Park and for 1,300 in Balatonfured, where open water swimming events will take place.
FINA picked Hungary to host the championships in 2015 after Guadalajara, Mexico, withdrew for financial reasons.
The championships will take place on July 14-30.
Tickets can be purchased at www.fina-budapest2017.com.
A 96-year-old Hungarian swimmer can be one of the stars of the 2017 FINA World Masters
He looks like a 65-year-old gentleman, but actually he turns 96 on 20 December! 18-time world and 29-time European champion veteran swimmer Béla Bánki Horváth is already preparing for next year’s FINA World Masters Championships.
”I started swimming at 9, I was 15 when I took part in my first competition. At that time, in the 20’s and 30’s swimming was already quite popular in my hometown Orosháza, there was even a water polo team in the city” – said Béla Bánki Horváth, who turns 96 on 20 December.
He became Hungarian junior champion at the age of 18. After that he was member of the Hungarian national team captained by former legendary swimmmer Dr Ferenc Csík.
”To tell you the truth I never had the chance to achieve a good result in the big events, because there were some better swimmers than me. Let’s say I was about 16th in the world. If the 1944 Olympics had not been cancelled, maybe I could have qualified for that.”
Béla Bánki Horváth, who also played water polo in the first division of the Hungarian championship, decided to take part in masters swimming competitions after retirement.
His first FINA Masters World Championships was the one held in Indianapolis in 1992, where he won a gold medal at the age of 72.
”It is an interesting story, since in my age group plenty of swimmers had performed better in the previous decades. Some of them, however, had passed away, got fat or become lazy, so actually there were two contenders for gold, me and the actual world record holder. I was better on that day, so I won the race.”
The gold in Indianapolis was only the beginning of a run of great results, since Béla Bánki Horváth has won 18 gold medals in the world masters championships and 29 in the European masters championships. Not to speak of his 2 world records and 34 European records!
”People always ask me what my secret is, how I can perform so well at this age. I can say I am very fortunate. My father died at 60. I was 15 when a doctor told me after an appendectomy to give up swimming, because it could be dangerous for my heart, but just the opposite has happened: my heart has become very strong thanks to swimming. When I was 54, another doctor told me my heart is as strong as one of a horse…”
Bánki Horváth won 5 gold medals and broke one world record at the 2015 FINA World Masters Championships, and he looks forward to participating at the 2017 FINA Masters WCH in Budapest. He even stayed away from this year’s European Masters Championships in favour of the world championships, as he wants to focus on that.
”My goal will be of course to win more gold medals. I have not decided yet in which events I will start. I am too old to travel to such a big event alone, so last year I was accompanied by one of my grandchildren to Kazan, and I will need the help of my elder daughter and my grandchild in Budapest next year.”
’Uncle Béla’, as he is called by almost everyone, is swimming 800 metres every other day, and plans to take part in some domestic masters competitions until the world masters championships. In February he wants to break the European record in 50 m breaststroke and in 200 m backstroke in Százhalombatta.
”I have two mottos: the first one is ’I will swim till I die, ’cause till I swim, I am alive’. The other one is: ’I swim because I am healthy, but actually I am healthy because I swim.’ A well known professor in Szeged likes and uses it, which suggests there is something to it.”
Like his Facebook page HERE!
The Dagály Aquatics Complex is shining during the Holidays
Constructions of the World Championships’ most important venue, the Dagály Aquatics Complex is progressing perfectly, therefore all those involved with the works can calmly and proudly enjoy the Holidays. The Complex already looks breathtaking, constructions will resume in January with full throttle towards the success of the Event.
The speed of the new venue’s construction has been amazing both the Hungarian and the international aquatics family since its start. Those who day by day contribute to the works and development of the Complex can observe especially well this unprecedented progress. On December 21, the constructing company, Market ‘paused for a moment’ on the occasion of Christmas to greet and thank all those working on this great project.
In his greeting words delivered on site, Sándor Scheer, director of Market expressed gratitude to the Government, especially to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, as well as to Tamás Gyárfás, FINA Vice-president for all their efforts that enabled Hungary to serve as host of the 17th FINA World Championships and World Masters Championships in 2017.
‘This is why we stand here today, in this beautiful Aquatics Complex, that is getting ready much faster than originally planned – we are at the finish line! Only five percent of the construction is left to be completed, therefore we have enough time to implement even the smallest, most delicate touches in advance’ – said Mr. Scheer in his speech.
Sándor Balogh, financial director of the Budapest 2017 Organising Committee also greeted the participants of the festive gathering on behalf of OC president Dr Miklós Seszták, Gyàrfàs Tamàs, co-president of OC and OC executive director Éva Szántó. Mr. Balogh underlined that the World Championships could not be realised without the collaboration of all those present – each and every individual working on this gigantic project must feel proudly part of it.
‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to reach far, go together’ – the financial director used this well-known phrase to emphasize that all the workers and organisers of the FINA World Championships are going fast and far together, for the success of the greatest event ever held in Budapest and Hungary so far.
Let the following photos present the current state and readiness of the Dagály Aquatics Complex!
Photo source: Péter Molnár