Taking stock of the Budapest Athletics World Championships on Day 5: record-breaking spectator numbers, a Hungarian bronze, and amazing competitions.

Ádám Schmidt called attention to the championships’ mascot, Youhuu the Hungarian racka sheep, a lovable and entertaining character. He also mentioned that, for the first time in the 40-year history of the world championships, short films about the athletes will be shown to the audience before certain events.

At an extraordinary press conference, the minister referred to this event as a great collective success for all Hungarians, highlighting that Budapest is now ready to host one of the world’s largest sporting events thanks to environmentally friendly, sustainable, and large-scale sports infrastructure developments.

The Prime Minister stated that both the European and Hungarian economies are influenced by the Russo-Ukrainian war. If the war were to end, both economies could show their ‘better side.’

From the tram stops of lines 1, 2, and 24, a few minutes’ walk from Müpa will get spectators to the northern and main entrances of the National Athletics Centre. The Ráckeve (H6) and Csepel (H7) suburban railway lines are also excellent choices, and several buses serve the nearby Közvágóhíd stop as well.

Thanks to a spectacular and comfortable transport solution, spectators will also be able to travel to the venue of the Budapest Athletics World Championships by boat from Batthyány Square. The organisers, committed to offering unique experiences to the athletics enthusiasts arriving in the Hungarian capital, will set up several fan zones in the centre of the city, along the route of the street races.

In terms of spectators, the championship will be the largest sports event in Hungary of all time. Also, in the history of world championships in the sport, never before have so many athletes participated in a single event as they will now.

The central figure on one side of the medals is the emblem of the championships, Budapest’s renowned landmark, the Liberty Statue on Gellért Hill. The female figure is holding a palm frond aloft, symbolising determination, glory, and victory. In the foreground of the back of the medals is the brand-new National Athletics Centre, reminiscent of a crown for the queen of sports, with the track where the athletes will be competing visible in the background.

The World Championships are scheduled to take place at the National Athletics Centre from 19 to 27 August, with the road running and racewalking events hosted at Heroes’ Square. The international interest in the Budapest Athletics World Championships, starting on 19 August, is immense, with fans of the sport having purchased tickets from nearly a hundred countries.