“We can be proud of this title, our athletes, our experts and Budapest, because it is a clear recognition of the fact that [Budapest] can be a worthy host to major sporting events and that Hungary plays a key role in the development of young athletes on the international sports stage,” Tünde Szabó said.

Throughout 2019 Budapest will host over 365 sports events, including community, national, regional, and international competitions.

Dániel Gyurta a famous Hungarian Olympic champion swimmer, says: “The main aim is to make people discover that there’s a particular beauty that only sport can give, and to encourage them to exercise more”.

Organising this many events requires the proper sports infrastructure, quality tourism services and a strong economy, Tünde Szabó noted.

“I am happy to say that by now, our country and capital meets all those conditions,” Szabó said, adding that earning the title of European Capital of Sport “fits perfectly with the government’s sports policy goals”.

Photo: kormany.hu