The sailing season has started at Lake Balaton
This year is in the spirit of Olympic preparation in Hungarian sailing - stated the president of the Hungarian Sailing Association on Saturday at the opening of the Balaton Season Belflex Grand Prix in Balatonfüred. Lajos Kollár, the president of the 90-year-old association this year, said: last year, thanks to Mária Érdi and Zsombor Berecz, Hungarian sailors obtained two Olympic quotas, and this year there is a chance to obtain at least two more quotas, since the Vadnai and Gyapjas brothers are also performing better and better. He emphasized: there is every chance that Hungary will be there in Tokyo with five Olympians in four boat classes, which would be the greatest Hungarian success in the sport so far.
Speaking about the season, he noted: this year, the association will organize five international sailing competitions, partly in locations in Balatonfüred and partly in Balatonföldvár, and according to plans, the development of the stop in Balatonfüred will also start this year. He added that with the help of EU tenders, the association provided nearly two hundred boats and sports equipment to 27 clubs.
Lajos Kollár emphasized that there was a record number of entrants in all their competitions last year. More than two hundred people have now entered the Balaton sailing competition, the first regatta of the season organized by the Hungarian Sailing Association, and they want to reach the number of last year's jubilee competition at the summer Blue Ribbon. He added: in recent years, the number of people participating in the replenishment of sailing has doubled, and the number of athletes with racing licenses has also increased.
The president of the association also spoke about the launch of the Vitorlázz itthon program for tour sailors, and a phone application to help tour sailors spend the night in the port that suits them and to plan their route according to meteorological conditions.
In his opening speech, Balázs Rákossy, the state secretary of the Ministry of Finance responsible for the use of EU funds, called Lake Balaton one of the most important strongholds of Hungarian tourism, and Balatonfüred the capital of Lake Balaton. He added that tourism, which is performing better every year, contributes greatly to the dynamic growth of the Hungarian economy, and the Hungarian Tourism Agency provides significant resources to ensure that outstanding tourist locations - including Lake Balaton in particular - can provide services to those who want to relax, do sports, and rest that they can satisfy all needs.
According to István Bóka, the mayor of Balatonfüred, the season-opening sailing competition is also seen as the opening of the summer tourist season, which symbolizes the unity for Lake Balaton, sailing, the city of Balatonfüred and sports. He emphasized that sailing is a technical sport where improvements play a big role, but it is also a serious mental challenge.
The sailors were also greeted by Andreas Haas, the mayor of Germering, Balatonfüred's German sister city, celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the relationship between the two cities.
According to the association's website, 210 people entered the Balaton Season Opening Beflex Grand Prix, which started from Balatonfüred at noon on Saturday. The boatmen return to their destination in Balatonfüred, turning first at Alsóörs and then at Tihany. The time limit for the competition is 4.5 hours.
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