National Athletics Centre, Budapest
After a highly successful family opening day that attracted 15,000 participants, the first official competition will take place at the National Athletics Centre, the main venue of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. On 7-8 July, the best Hungarian athletes will compete in the national championships in the brand-new facility.
In less than 50 days, the World Athletics Championships, the biggest sporting event on Earth this year, will begin on 19 August. Preparations are gradually entering their final phase, and the 128th Hungarian Athletics Championships are an important part of it. The two-day event, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, will serve as a significant test for the best Hungarian athletes and the organisers of the World Championships.
For the first time, the athletes will compete in the 35,000-seat National Athletics Centre, the crown of the Queen of Sports. It will also serve as a test event for the World Championships organisers to familiarize themselves with the most modern athletics facility in Central and Eastern Europe, where 2,000 athletes from 200 countries will fight for victory between 19 and 27 August.
This will be the second event at the stadium following the highly successful family day and opening race on 17 June, and it will be the last event before the World Championships. In the heart of Budapest, on 7 and 8 July, athletics fans will have the opportunity to meet the local superheroes they will cheer on for nine days during the World Championships.
In the past month and a half, Hungarian athletes have started the outdoor season in excellent form. At the European Team Championships, they demonstrated tremendous strength by winning the Division II with a score of 456.5 points and securing a place at the top. Our men also finished in the Top 5 in 26 of the 37 events at the tournament, leaving no doubt that the World Championships hosts are among the 16 strongest nations on the continent.
Everyone should attend the event, as admission is free on both days, considering it is a major qualifying event for the World Championships.
The national championships are among the most prestigious tournaments in terms of points. It will be a great opportunity for athletes who have not yet qualified to the World Championships to take a big step towards their dream in world-class conditions. Among those local heroes on the track will be Janka Molnár, Hanga Klekner, Anita Márton, Réka Gyurátz, Réka Szilágyi, Gréta Kerekes, Dániel Huller, István Palkovits, Róbert Szikszai, Norbert Rivasz-Tóth, István Szögi, and Bálint Szeles.
In addition to the athletes who secured their spots at the World Championships, the stadium will also host athletes such as Bianka Kéri, Luca Kozák, and Bence Halász.
The thrilling two-day event will keep us captivated, with multiple events taking place simultaneously at times. This prestigious competition offers a special opportunity not only for devoted athletics fans but also for newcomers to the sport, allowing them to witness unforgettable moments and develop a newfound appreciation for the queen of sports.
The National Athletics Centre is conveniently located just a 15-20 minute public transport ride from the centre of Budapest. Trams 1, 2, and 24 stop within a few minutes' walk from the stadium, along with two HÉV (metro) lines and a bus stop at the base of the Rákóczi Bridge. The Friday program will commence at 15:35 and conclude around 21:45, while Saturday's events will run from 16:20 until approximately 21:45.
