The Hungarian capital welcomes the excellences of the old continent for the seventh time in history. Ten months after the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Debrecen, followed by great success, the Hungarian National Skating Federation (HNSF) faces a new challenge. „Having an experienced staff handling the event helps the organization of the competition a lot” – says Lajos Kósa, the president of HNSF. „Having been chosen again is the acknowledgment of our work and dedicatition of decades for the development of skating, for ISU.”

Watching the opening ceremony of the Syma hall in 2006, enjoying the ice show of the Russian star skater Yevgeni Plushenko nobody could have thought that seven and a half years later the venue will host all the top skaters of Europe.

„It is a fact that the venue, where many other high level international sport events have been held, is a great challenge for the organizers, because this will be the debut of figure skating here. We would like to bring a memorable event to the hall with a lot of creativity for the 1200 expected accreditated persons and the audience, not to mention the TV viewers, who will be watching the program HD worldwide. More, than 10 European TV companies have already registered, the media accreditaion is ongoing already over 100 registered representatives, and the dedline is still far: 11th of December. The host broadcaster duties are undertaken by the Hungarian National Television in 25 hours coverage all along the event. They have to set up unified lightning system for their 15 cameras coverage, meanwhile they need to adjust to the 1600 lux which is necessary on the ice surface’ – countinued György Sallak, the General Secretery of HNSF.

The Syma Hall is set within the area of Puskás Ferenc Stadium, as well as the Practice Ice Rink being in walking distance to the main venue. Mobile ice will be waiting for the comptitors, made by aST company which is well-know in the world of ISU sports. The Austrians proved their professionality at previous Olympic Games, World and European Championships as well. Cooperating with the experts of the Budapest City Park Ice Rink, they will start to set up the rink on 3rd January. The organizers announced that ticket sales have began through Ticketpro system, and one third of the tickets have already been sold (www.ticketpro.hu).

The opening ceremony is already under organization: using the music play „Storm” composed by Balázs Havasi, it will be based on the history of figure skating filled with freshness by modern, spectacular show elements starring Júlia Sebestyén, the winner of the last European Championships held here exactly ten years ago. In 2014 home supporters cannot expect such result as it seems that only one ice dance couple will represent Hungary.

Ticket info

Source and more info: efsc2014