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The members of the Hungarian team traveling to the Berlin 2023 Special Olympic Games were received by President Katalin Novák on Tuesday at the Sándor Palace in Budapest. At the event, the members of the Hungarian team took the solemn oath.
In her welcome speech, Katalin Novák said that the members of the Hungarian team are here to celebrate, as they are taking the oath of allegiance to prepare for the Special Olympics with honesty, unwavering will, and to the best of their abilities. They also pledge that their hearts will be filled with respect and love for their country and that they will compete in a spirit of fair play, she added.
You are a role model for us (…). We can learn from you respect, humility, honor, perseverance and a competitive spirit, and also how to fight,”
the president said to the team.
Recalling the closing words of the oath – “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me fight bravely” – she told the participants to go with the will to win. Novák added that she would personally attend the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics in Berlin and offer encouragement from the stands.
Photo: MTI/Bruzák Noémi
Lajos Lengyel, president of the Hungarian Special Olympics Association, said that 76 Hungarian athletes will compete in 15 sports in June. Around seven thousand competitors from almost 200 countries are coming to the Special Olympics, he added.
He also pointed out that
Katalin Novák will be the first Hungarian President to accompany them to the competition and will lead the team at the opening event on June 17.
The president of the association also thanked the Head of State for her commitment to support the disabled, the poor, and the underprivileged.
Featured photo via MTI/Bruzák Noémi