Here’s how much the 2017 World Aquatics Championships will cost Hungary

There are many rumors in the media about the actual costs of the 2017 World Aquatics Championships, but atlatszo.hu calculated how much money the government will really spend, based on government decisions and the amount of money that was separated from the budget each year.

Based on the findings, atlatszo.hu estimates that the Championships will cost Hungary at least 89.843 billion HUF. The majority, 52 billion HUF will be spent this year, but an additional 25 billion HUF will be needed in 2017. Exact numbers can only be revealed after the Championships have already ended, and there are additional costs, like the construction of buildings, stadiums etc. which are although included, but would have been built regardless of the Championships.

The first official report estimated that the Championships will only cost 8 billion HUF, but it has soon escalated. Hungary won the rights to host the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in 2013 and it was supposed to be held in 2021, but after Guadalajara, Mexico dropped out, Hungary was chosen as the host of the 2017 Championships.

The estimated 89.843 billion HUF so far includes the building and reconstruction of all the swimming pools and complexes, the reconstruction of several buildings on Margaret Island and the Pest-side quay, and the costs of the events.

The government has spent 1.4 billion HUF in 2013, 1.585 billion HUF in 2014, and 6.979 billion HUF in 2015, so far; it’s estimated to spend 52.201 billion HUF in 2016, 25.748 billion HUF in 2017, and 1.93 billion HUF in 2018.