Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

PM Orbán: Olympics Ideal for Showing Hungary’s Excellence

PM Orbán: Olympics Ideal for Showing Hungary’s Excellence

The Olympics are an excellent outlet for Hungary to show its prowess during peacetime, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán explained in an interview with sports daily Nemzeti Sport.

At the start of the Tokyo games, the Hungarian Prime Minister expected three gold medals in fencing, two in swimming, four in kayak and canoe, one in sailing, two in shooting, and one in wrestling. While certain athletes in these categories may not have made it that far, Orbán emphasized that all Hungarians participating at the Olympics deserve praise, since they are one with the nation.

Orbán told Nemzeti Sport that Kristóf Milák met his expectation for winning gold, but he still stood up for Katinka Hosszú after she performed below expectations, since “once a champion always a champion.” There are not many people for whom Hungary’s national anthem has been played at an Olympics, and they all deserve respect, he explained.

Hungary’s Olympic Success Communicates Strength


Orbán expected three gold medals in fencing, from Áron Szilágyi’s individual sabre and the Hungarian team’s sabre, as well as in epée. Ultimately, Szilágyi was the only one who won gold, but Hungary had podium finishes in all three categories.

While he thought the women’s canoe kayakers would win three gold medals and expected Bálint Kopasz’s 1000-meter kayaking victory, Sándor Tótka’s gold medal in men’s kayak single 200 meters came as a surprise. The water polo and pentathlon results, the Prime Minister said, are always extremely difficult to foretell.

Orbán distinguished the Olympics as an excellent outlet for nations to compare their talents and strengths during peacetime. The Games are unique because their competitors completely adjust their lives and careers to take part.

"Science, sports and culture are the fields in which the competitive instincts of nations come to the fore in peacetime. In every nation there is a conviction that they represent something unique that no other nation represents, and that is embodied most spectacularly in champions, in winners.”


Hungarian Olympians as Idols of Virtue


Orbán also brought up that while in Rio women won seven of Hungary’s eight gold medals, in Tokyo five of Hungary’s six gold medals were won by men. He related the topic of gender in sports to the position of men in today’s modern society.

The Prime Minister believes that while the female ideal has always been strong, in the modern era, male virtues, such as “physical strength, the mental and physical strength that is necessary for showing responsibility, for caring for one’s family,” are not respected. Orbán believes the Hungarian men who participated at the Olympics are “not only champions, but also male idols.”

"This is a man’s physical appearance, this is a man’s mental strength, this is how he fights, this is how he loves his family, and this is how he sacrifices, if needs be, ten years of his life for a cause. The Hungarians who won now did a great service to our country, and perhaps with their help we might be able to bring the male ideal back to Hungarian life.”


Orbán Speaks on Hungary’s Plans in Sporting


Orbán believes the breadth of Hungary’s success at this year’s Olympics in multiple sports speaks volumes and is a good sign for the future. He added that while Hungary must maintain its position in the sports it has traditionally dominated, there is also space for new additions, such as sailing and cycling.

The Hungarian Prime Minister also addressed sporting in education, saying that once Hungary’s university system has been completely modernized, there will be an encouragement on both amateur and competitive sporting through grants and extra funding.

Orbán believes Hungary’s 2017 opportunity to submit a bid to host the Olympics was lost due to a lack of national unity. The Prime Minister stated that there were political reasons as well, referring to Momentum’s initiation of a referendum on the subject. He also believes that “It’s evident that if we had had the chance to host the Olympics, they would have been held similarly to the European Championship, in front of full houses, open, without problems,” adding that

"Hosting the Olympics is an eternal dream for the Hungarians. A love that never ends. The necessary capabilities, a love for sports, the importance of sports, national sentiment, economic strength, culture, are all there, and will remain there. Therefore, although we may not live to see it, there will be an Olympiad in Hungary.”

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Hungary Ranked Among the World’s Safest Travel Destinations for 2025
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
×