Budapest Open: Swimming is finally on at the “Duna Arena” in Budapest!

Swimming is finally on at the “Duna Arena” in Budapest! The start of the FINA World Championships in the Magyar capital is scheduled for July 14, 2017, but the superb facility hosting the swimming and diving competitions during the FINA showcase event, welcomes these days the first athletes in its 50m-pool. From June 1-4, the Budapest Open will gather 321 swimmers in what constitutes an important test event for the Championships. The majority of the competitors naturally come from Hungary, but foreign delegations include Austria, Croatia, Lithuania, Panama, Slovakia, Sweden, and Vietnam.

It is the first swimming competition in the brand-new facility. The Duna Aquatics Arena, officially inaugurated last February, is situated to the north side of the Dagály Swimming Baths site on the east bank of the Danube river, in the heart of the Hungarian capital. It consists of two main facilities for the 2017 FINA World Championships: a permanent building with seating for up to 6,000 spectators and a temporary facility, constructed specifically for FINA’s major event, which will host additional stands (for a total of 12,000 seats in Championships’ mode) and support facilities. The complex includes two 50m-pools and one diving pool (all indoor).

“It is surely one of the best complexes of this kind in the world! I can recall the iconic Beijing ‘Water Cube’, or the outstanding venue in Dubai, but there aren’t many more of this level. The organisers of Budapest 2017 deserve FINA’s deep recognition and appreciation. Our swimmers and divers will have excellent conditions to compete!” says Cornel Marculescu, FINA Executive Director. He led a FINA delegation that was in the Magyar capital this week, discussing the latest stages of preparation for the 2017 FINA World Championships. “Besides the competition, the ‘Duna’ will also be a superb legacy for the city of Budapest”, he adds.

Inside the “Dune Arena”

But Mr. Marculescu also underlines the quality of the remaining venues constructed or refurbished for the Championships. “Another two iconic locations are the ones for synchronised swimming and high diving. They will both provide the most spectacular images of the competition here in Budapest!”

The FINA Executive Director referred to the unique setting being prepared in the City Park (Városliget). During winter time, this space is used for ice skating by both adults and children. This venue will be the location of the synchronised swimming competitions (seating capacity: 6,000), which will require two temporary pools, instead of ice, on the rink. These conditions will be exceptional: there is the scenic view of the park, the monumental sculptures of Heroes Square, the Vajdahunyad Castle next to the rink, and the historic building of the “Mucsarnok” Exhibition Hall. “FINA’s motto is ‘Water is our World’, but in this case we will have ‘Water on Water’”, underlines Mr. Marculescu.