The fact that the national stadium was added to a list in which there are hardly any European facilities also shows how big an achievement this is.
The Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation held a conference entitled Sport and economy, where Balázs Fürjes, Hungarian member of the International Olympic Committee and member of the Hungarian Olympic Committee's presidency, summarized the basic principles of the Puskás Arena in five points:
- with respect for the past,
- the best stadium should be the XXI.
century, - it should be more than a stadium,
- it should be built in 100 percent Hungarian design,
- it should be a medium, average budget stadium.
Fürjes pointed out that, while in 1999 foreign companies had to be involved in both the planning and construction, twenty years later the Puskás Arena - which was handed over in November 2019 - was already created 100 percent by Hungarian companies.
He also talked about how in 2015 - when he was the head of the Budapest Olympic bid - then permanent IOC member Pál Schmitt - who has since become an honorary member - took him to Kuala Lumpur, to the International Olympic Committee congress. At that time, most sports managers hardly ever visited Budapest, as there was no reason, there were few sports facilities in the Hungarian capital, and therefore few international sports events.
Since then, Budapest has become one of the sports capitals of the world: from the Duna Arena to the Puskás Arena to the National Athletic Center, high-level sports facilities have been built,
Hungary hosted two water World Championships, four matches at the European Football Championship, and this summer the biggest domestic sports event of all time, the World Athletics Championships.
Fürjes also spoke about the declaration of sport as a strategic sector, which was one of the most important measures of the Orbán government.
"Sports teach you that you can only be successful in a team, that even individual athletes have a team behind them and are working. Sports teach you that there is competition in life, but you have to respect your opponent. It also teaches you how to process success and failure. Sport offers the possibility of a fuller life for those children who play some kind of sport," said Balázs Fürjes, and added:
there is no other thing in the world that has such a cohesive force as sports.
In closing, Balázs Fürjes summarized the expectations for the following years: Hungary will host the World Short Course Swimming Championships in December 2024, the Puskás Arena will host the soccer Champions League final in 2026 or 2027, and the World Aquatic Championships again in 2027.
Cover image: The Puskás Arena is among the twenty most beautiful sports facilities in the world
Source: Mandiner.hu
