Hungary utilized the prodigious event from the 18th-21st of June to lay the groundwork for continued success in the sport
As the old adage goes, champions are not born, they are built. Building the future is exactly the business that Hungary is currently in. The Hungarian School Sport Federation has been organizing the Hungarian Student Olympics for an astonishing 26 years. The longstanding relationship between sport, the country, and schools is only becoming stronger and they are the ideal partners for adding to the beach soccer boom.
The Student Olympics takes children from elementary schools all the up to high school, ages 6-18, and gives them the chance to compete in 18 sports. This year the number of participants reached an astronomical 1.2 million students. That number will surely escalate in the coming years as the emphasis and dedication to sport is instilled in the children.
Hungary has already shown the commitment to beach soccer with the implementation of a National League and their high-quality on the field brand of beach soccer. The knowledge that there is a need to develop the sport at the earliest possible age is helping to create something special in the beach soccer world. Creating the future champions of beach soccer has taken a huge step forward with the Hungarian Student Olympics and that progress is only the beginning. There have also been significant advancements in the international relations between federations in the hopes of establishing student exchange programs that will ensure beach soccer continues to grow all over the world.
Cornerstones have been laid. The foundation has been set. The blueprints are available and with the Hungarian Student Olympics 2014 including beach soccer in the agenda, the future is in sight. The first year with beach soccer was a resounding success as there were 40 teams competing. Not only were many children exposed to the sport, many now have been shown a beach soccer path. At the opening ceremony, Gábor Balogh (President of Hungarian School Sport Federation and Olympian) said, “Beach soccer is a great way to show the future to Hungarian students, who love and play football. The feedback about beach soccer amongst the children is very positive, so I wish good luck for Hungarian Beach Soccer and the Hungarian School Sport Federation is committed to support the sport along its way, and we will continue this successful cooperation.”
The fun is just starting and now is the time to witness the progress right before our eyes. The future champions are being groomed at the moment and the Hungarian Student Olympics are just one example of that. The building of a better beach soccer world is in the middle of a transformation but looking ahead with boundless hope has never been easier. The Euro Beach Soccer League will be making a stop in the same place as the Student Olympics, MLSZ Beach Aréna Siófok, from the 8th-10th of August.
