Leaders of the Hungarian Olympic Committee met with EuroHockey and the Hungarian federation last week in Budapest at the organisation’s headquarters to discuss the future of the sport in the country.

The EuroHockey delegation was led by President Marcos Hofmann in tandem with Hungarian federation President András Zsoldos and Vice President Ferenc Ferenczi.

They met with Dr. Ádám Schmidt, State Secretary for Sport at the Ministry of Defense, and Zsolt Gyulay, President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee , and its Secretary General László Fábián.    

The coordination between Hungarian and international bodies was carried out by Zsolt Ferenczi (COO) on behalf of the Hungarian federation.

Currently, the ministry is completing a feasibility study on delivering two hockey pitches by the end of May which would make a huge difference for the sport in the country.

“Hungary is one of the founding members of the FIH, dating all the way back to 1924,” Hofmann said of the meeting. 

“With such a long history, the Hungarian ministry is mindful of rebuilding this once great hockey nation and we will do everything to try and help the process.”

As part of EuroHockey’s Erasmus+ project Solidarity through Great Governance and the FIH Empowerment Grant, Hungarian Hockey’s new strategy will be delivered in November 2025,

Before them, EuroHockey will provide consultancy together with the FIH on the feasibility study for the new pitches, part of the Organisational Health service offered by EuroHockey to all members.

Dr Ádám Schmidt, Secretary of State, said of the meeting: “I am convinced that it is time for us to take action.

“It is unthinkable that such a popular Olympic sport would not have an official pitch in our country. In this regard, I have consulted in my office with EuroHockey, led by Marcos Hofmann, and the Hungarian Federation chaired by András Zsoldos.

Secretary General László Fábián added:  “The focus of the discussion was on cooperation. Both the international and European federations support the development of medium and small countries.

“This was also requested from the Hungarian Olympic Committee, and we are partners in this. As a start, they would plan to build a pitch in the Dunavarsány training camp, which would be the first official one in Hungary.”

Top picture (from left to right): Phil Taylor, Blueprint Sports Consultancy; EuroHockey President Marcos Hofmann, Hungarian Secretary of State Dr Ádám Schmidt, Hungarian Hockey Vice President Ferenc Ferenczi, Hungarian Hockey President András Zsoldos; Tom Pedersen-Smith, EuroHockey Head of Strategy & Development; Hungarian Hockey COO Zsolt Ferenczi; Hungarian Hockey General Secretary András Péter Zsoldos