Attila Vari, the two-times Olympic champion (2000 and 2004), has been re-elected as the president of the Hungarian Water Polo Federation (MVSLZ).
The Assembly of the MVSLZ was held in Budapest. Vari was unanimously elected for the four-year term of office (until 2024). He has been the president since 2018 when he replaced Denes Kemeny.
The co-chair of the organization will continue to be dr Gyorgy Beck and its social president will be Eva Hegedus.
Norbert Madaras and dr. Tamás Molnar, who were successful players of the national team in the 2000s, as well as Vari, were elected as vice-presidents.
Members of the MVLSZ board are: Peter Biros, Dr. Tamas Boros, Tamas Dala, Dr. Tamas Farago, Dr Istvan Gergely, Dr. Tamas Hoffmann, Istvan Kovacs, Gergely Lukacs, Jozsef Magyar, Zoltan Nyiri, Bulcsu Szakely, Sandor Toth.
Photo:waterpolo.hu/Facebook
Federation extended contracts with head coaches
After the election, the new presidency held its first meeting, and extended the contracts with the head coaches of the national teams -Tamas Marcz (men) and Attila Biro (women) – until the end of 2021 and decided that Peter Gall would continue to be the general secretary of the association. The various committee members will remain in their position.
Attila Vari talked about the plans in an interview with the website vlv.hu:
“This is a huge responsibility, but the votes show how united and strong the Hungarian water polo family is. We have a very serious task and we can always do it together, which is confirmed by the international feedback of many events. We are highly regarded internationally from a professional sports point of view and in the field of organizing sporting events. I am very pleased about that. This year’s European Championships in Budapest were a great success. Nearly a hundred thousand people attended the games, with millions in 30 countries watching the Championships. It’s great happiness, but we have to look ahead.”
Vari emphasized that the most important thing to do now at the national team level is to properly take the men’s team to the finish line of the Olympics and secure the proper conditions for the female team, that still have to qualify.
“I will be happiest if both of our teams play at the Tokyo Olympics.”
Tamas Farago nominated for “Athlete of the Nation”
During the assembly, the MVSLZ was informed that Tamas Farago (67), the former Olympic champion, one of the best Hungarian (and world’s players) of all time, had been nominated as a new member of the Association of the “Athletes of the Nation”, which was greeted by great applause.
The member of the Association can be athletes over the age of 60 who have achieved outstanding results and who have played a decisive role in Hungarian sports even after the end of their careers. The number of recipients can be up to 12. After three-time Olympic champion water polo player Gyorgy Karpati passed away on June 17, one place became available. Under the Hungarian Sports Act, current Athletes of the Nation propose the new member, who will be nominated by the Secretary of State for Sports. Eleven eligible members proposed Farago, and the government has to make the official and final decision.
Photo: waterpolo.hu/Facebook
Farago is a three-time Olympic medalist, winning a silver in 1972, a gold in 1976, and a bronze medal in 1980. He was also a world champion (1973), a two-time European champion (1974,1977). After retiring, he became a water polo coach. He guided the women’s team to the gold at European Championship in 2001 and the world title four years later. In 1993, he became a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
