"Now that we have become a little bit stronger, we are on the way to become a strong country and we should make some efforts to actually show our strength", said Mr Orbán when he was asked why Hungary had agreed to organise the championship within forty days.

As he added, the short deadline was a serious test and we managed to pass. He recalled that he had asked Tamás Gyárfás, President of the Hungarian Swimming Association three times if he had given careful consideration to the organisation of the competition. The answer was that if we all united and cooperated, then the competition could be successfully organised. The championship was launched by the Prime Minister using a starting pistol.

Source: Prime Minister's Office