Sport Centre
13-11-2007
Source: - Károly Jocha

Debrecen has faith in qualifying for next round

The first press conference of the Youth Olympic Games - which is due in 2010 and for which candidates have been invited for the first time – was taken place on Friday noon since the candidacy of Debrecen.

Following the welcome words of the project manager, Mr. Péter Szalay, president of the Hungarian National Olympic Committee (NOC), Mr. Pál Schmitt, took up the word.

1. To be encouraged by the success of the European Youth Olympic Festivals (EYOFF), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to organise the Youth Olympic Games for the first time for 14-18 years old young people from which rousing up of the youth of the world – about 50 percent of it do not do sports at all - is also expected – said Mr. Schmitt. – Such an organisation at the same time can be a good means of enhancing friendship, tolerance and chivalry and the IOC can contribute to world peace by its limited means. As international associations “protected” uneven years, therefore IOC organises the first summer games in 2010 and two years later the winter games.

President of the Hungarian NOC told that 3500 competitors can enter in 2010, while 1200 in year 2012. There will be reasonable shortenings in each competition event.

1. First of all eighteen and finally eleven cities bid officially – carried on Mr. Schmitt. – After the withdrawal of the candidacy of Belgrade and Dublin, nine cities left – the Hungarian NOC gave all-out support to the candidacy of Debrecen. I am convinced that bidding of Debrecen has already called attention to Hungary and a possible win would mean a lot in awarding of 2020 Olympic Games in 2013.

    Mr. Gábor Elbert departmental under-secretary of state was pleased to realize that there is a common language in some issues of sport in the country. University of Debrecen ensures an excellent hinterland in junction of knowledge and sport. Furthermore he was happy to tell that after former bad experience, more than three milliard is available for the preparation in 2008 for the Olympic Games and most of it can be mobilized already this year.
    The Mayor of Debrecen, Mr. Lajos Kósa could hardly stand up because of playing ice-hockey without substitution on Wednesday evening.

1. Debrecen does not think in campaigns in its sport undertakings but supports such kind of investments which are needed for the city independently of each organisation. We are proud that in the city of 208 thousand residents, 75 thousand students study, and thirty thousand of them do their higher grade studies. So it did not mean any problem to fill the two thousand posts established in the latter one year with qualified manpower.

    Mr. Kósa highlighted the importance of swimming-pools and the twelve world competitions which have been organised in the capital of ‘Hajdúság’ since 2001.

1. Independently of awarding to us the Youth Olympic Games, we are certainly continuing development - carried on. – For example we would like to organise the water-polo European championships in 2010 with our fraternal city, Oradea while our bidding for 2009 futsal European championships which would be arranged together by Budapest and Debrecen is promising well. Otherwise the trainer of the Hungarian selected team finished in the fourth place in the world championship this year is Mihály Kozma is native of Debrecen…

    It also came up that in the issue of the correction in documentation of the government guarantee of the Youth Olympic Games they agreed with Mr. Gordon Bajnai Minister within three minutes. It would play an important role in the decision of the IOC that in the period of August 2010, determined concretely, suitable weather can be hoped only in the cases of the four European candidates contrary to the Asian sites. From Moscow, Torino, Poznan and Debrecen the two latter ones have real chance to win. 
         Mr. Mihály Orendi, the main organiser started from the sport great power situation of Hungary when he was informed of the bidding possibility.

• I suddenly felt that we have to be there and one day later the Mayor, Mr. Lajos Kósa gave it his blessing. After great excitement we gave in our candidate documentation some hours before the set deadline of 17 hours on 26th October in the Headquarters of the IOC in Lausanne. My optimism is based on the announced principle of the IOC that this competition form is not for large metropolises. Therefore we are expecting 19th November when we get to know if we qualify for next round in which at most three or four cities will stay in competition.