The Hungarian government has signed a cooperation agreement with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) to enhance the safety of sports events and prevent security risks from disrupting competitions, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced in Budapest on Thursday.
Speaking at a joint press conference with UNOCT Assistant Secretary-General Alexander Zuev, Szijjártó said Hungarians have a strong emotional connection to sport while firmly rejecting the mixing of geopolitics with sporting events and any form of violence linked to them.
He warned that one of the greatest challenges facing the organization of major sports events today is ensuring security, particularly amid the spread of hatred and extremist ideologies. At the same time, he stressed that Hungary offers a safe environment with zero tolerance for antisemitism and hate.
According to the minister, sports events in Hungary are places of family entertainment and shared joy, not fear or incitement. He noted that all major international sporting events hosted in Hungary in recent years have taken place without verbal or physical violence.
Szijjártó added that Hungary takes firm action against illegal migration and that spectators attending sports events in the country do not need to fear becoming victims of violence. He said the government welcomes cooperation with UNOCT to ensure that future events remain just as safe.
He described the newly signed agreement as a meaningful partnership, expressing confidence that joint efforts will help ensure no sports event falls victim to global security challenges, particularly those hosted in Hungary.
The minister also pointed out that the world is currently living in an era of heightened risks, including the danger of renewed global bloc formation. In this context, he argued that sport should serve as a common, unifying language connecting nations and continents, rather than becoming a casualty of geopolitical conflicts.
He underlined that participation in international competitions should be based solely on sporting qualification, warning that subjective political conditions can easily be misused. Szijjártó expressed hope that sport would increasingly speak the language of peace and contribute to reconciliation between nations.
As an example, he noted that both the Israeli and Belarusian national football teams have chosen Hungary as their temporary home venue for European matches, as they are unable to play at home for various reasons. He said this decision reflects Hungary’s reputation as a safe and welcoming country.
Related articles:
