The Hungarian Olympic Team Has Performed Excellently, Beyond Strength

Hundreds of supporters were present in SYMA Hall on Monday at 14:00 to receive the Hungarian Olympic delegation returning home from the London Olympic Games. Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén and Zsolt Borkai, the president of the Hungarian Olympic Committee welcomed the 75 athletes of the delegation. István Simicskó, the parliamentary state secretary of the Ministry of Defence, the social president of the Budapest Honvéd Sports Club (BHSC) also attended the event.

Speaking about the successes of the Olympic team, István Simicskó told us that every Hungarian athlete had given an excellent performance in the Olympic Games, as reflected in the fact that Hungary is placed ninth on the medal table of countries.

“This is an exceptional miracle whose background can be found in the mentality of Hungarian sportsmen and people, in their hearts and willpower. The financial, health care and sports medicine support available in Hungary pales in comparison with the amounts spent on sports in the USA or in China, and yet we are present among the best ones. Our athletes make a significant contribution to Hungary’s excellent international image", István Simicskó said in summing up the Hungarian participation.

The state secretary pointed out that the BHSC athletes have performed beyond strength too, as they have won two gold medals as well as one silver and one bronze. “Even if Hungary had sent only the BHSC athletes to the Games, we would have the 20-25th placing on the medal table. Of course, we must not stop now, we have to take advantage of this momentum", István Simicskó said, adding that the establishment of a kayak/canoe academy within the BHSC is already under discussion.

Answering our question, István Simicskó said he would like to see more and more soldiers becoming athletes and more and more athletes becoming soldiers. “I think there is a connection between these two things, which reinforce each other: someone takes an oath to defend the country, lives a disciplined life and meanwhile produces excellent sports results. It is no accident that so many excellent Hungarian Olympians have been soldiers in one person. Ádám Marosi, a member of the present Olympic team is a soldier too. It would be good to extend their numbers."

The state secretary added that it is also important to strengthen the branches of sport close to the military career path like shooting, saber fencing and pentathlon, which is a classic military kind of sport.

Photo: Gábor Galovtsik

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