Another success in Hungarian sports diplomacy is the honorable task that the Hungarian IOC member received.
Balázs Fürjes, a member of the International Olympic Committee, was appointed a member of the IOC Olympic Program Committee. Even before becoming a member of the IOC, the Hungarian sports diplomat was included in the preparatory and coordinating committee for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, which is one of the most important bodies of the International Olympic Committee.
Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC, wrote a letter to Fürjes in which he appointed him a member of the Olympic Program Committee, thanked him for his work so far and wished him success in his new position.
The Olympic Program Committee is perhaps the most important committee of the IOC. This is where it is decided in which direction the content and program of the Olympics will change, this is where the future is scrutinized, in which direction the IOC should change the content and profile of the Olympics, what reforms should be considered regarding the Games.
This committee is a real thinking and creative workshop, from where the most important proposals for the executive committee and general assembly of the IOC come.
There has never been an example of someone being a "green-eared" IOC member less than half a year after being elected to this committee, where the members are usually "black belt" IOC members.
At the same time, the rapid progress of Balázs Fürjes is not a surprise - he is the youngest of the eight new members elected in Mumbai, but he is also considered young among the entire IOC membership, at 52 years old he is quite a few years below the average age of the members.
The Olympic Program Committee continuously monitors the program of the Winter, Summer and Youth Olympic Games and makes recommendations to the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee, so it has a decision-making role. The Olympic Program Committee is made up of IOC members, national Olympic committee delegates, international sports federation delegates, delegates of the organizing committee of the Olympic Games, and Olympians.
Regarding Balázs Fürjes membership in the Committee Responsible for the Olympic Program, Olympic champion swimmer Dániel Gyurta, a member of the athletes' committee, emphasized that since the foundation of the International Olympic Committee, there has always been a permanent Hungarian member of the organization, which proves the recognition of Hungarian sport.
"The inclusion of Balázs Fürjes in the Committee Responsible for the Olympic Program is a sign of the appreciation of the entire Hungarian Olympic movement and Hungarian sport, it is a huge honor. Anyone who knows Balázs's work and personality knows exactly that he will be right. I wish him every success, I am sure that he will represent the Olympic movement at a high level. The athletes' committee is one of the most active members of the IOC, we are present in each committee with one or more delegates, we have video conferences every month, and we often meet in person. Thomas Bach was also present in the first athletes' committee, which is a great pride for us, as he knows exactly the role of the athletes' committee," emphasized Dániel Gyurta.
Cover photo: Balázs Fürjes
Source: National Sport/Károly Árvai
