At the ceremony, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás said water has always been more than a natural gift for Hungary — it is “part of our identity, culture, and heritage.” He recalled that Hungary’s water polo players have earned the most Olympic medals in their sport’s history, while Hungarian swimmers rank fourth among nations.
Gulyás highlighted the nation’s long-standing aquatic legacy, pointing to Budapest’s iconic venues such as the Komjádi Béla Pool and the Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, designed by Hungary’s first Olympic champion. “This is a moment when dreams become plans, and plans become reality,” he said.
The minister stressed that the new headquarters represents more than just a building — it embodies the shared global mission of aquatic sports. “This event is not only about Hungary but about the worldwide community of swimming. The new home will serve as a center for science, training, education, and cooperation,” he said.
He noted that Budapest already hosts the International Judo Federation and the International Canoe Federation, with World Aquatics now joining them. “Hungary offers stability and security — and more international federations may follow,” Gulyás added.
World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam emphasized that the new Budapest facility will not only be an administrative center but also a world-class training and development hub, made possible with the support of the Hungarian government and local sports federations.
“This is a tremendous achievement in sports diplomacy,” said Ádám Schmidt, state secretary for sports at the Ministry of Defence, in an interview with M1 television. He described the decision to relocate World Aquatics’ headquarters to Budapest as a major vote of confidence. “We hope this is only the beginning of a trend of international federations choosing Budapest as their home,” he added.
Schmidt called swimming “the king of sports,” underlining that the new complex will boost Hungary’s aquatic disciplines both scientifically and competitively. “It will help our world-leading swimmers and water polo players stay at the top while providing a powerful push for artistic swimming and diving to join the global elite,” he said.
Péter Zentai, owner of the Láng Quarter development area in Budapest’s 13th district, said the headquarters marks the launch of a project five years in the making. The World Aquatics Center will be a key element within the 8.5-hectare redevelopment zone.
At the ceremony’s climax, Gergely Gulyás, Husain Al-Musallam, Ádám Schmidt, Brent Nowicki (World Aquatics executive director), Péter Zentai, and project director Zsanett Rózsahegyi jointly took up shovels to symbolically launch construction.