President Sulyok Meets Members of the Hungarian Diaspora in Switzerland

With IOC President Thomas Bach (R)

President Tamás Sulyok visited Lausanne at the invitation of Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), then met with members of the Swiss Hungarian community in Bern.

The visit was timed to coincide with the 130th anniversary of the founding of the Hungarian Olympic Committee, the sixth national Olympic committee to be established in the world. The Hungarian head of state congratulated the outgoing IOC president on the achievements of his twelve-year term.

Tamás Sulyok presented the outgoing IOC President with a sword autographed by three-time Olympic fencing champion Áron Szilágyi, the “silver sword” used by the athlete in Paris. At the ceremonial handover, the President of the Republic said:

May this sword be a symbol of the exemplary perseverance and integrity shown by athletes, and serve as a reminder to all of us that sport is not only competition, but also cooperation and inspiration.”

After the meeting, the presidential delegation visited the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, stopping by the Wall of Olympians located in the new IOC headquarters. During his visit to Switzerland, the President met with representatives of the Swiss Hungarian communities in Bern, where he was welcomed by László Zennyessy, President of the Swiss Ungarnhaus-Stiftung.

In his speech on the occasion of National Unity Day, Tamás Sulyok emphasized:

Always be loyal to your homeland and your nation. Never forget your fellow Hungarians, treat them as partners, accept them as part of the community despite any differences of opinion, always help each other, and always count on each other. This is what Hungarian national unity means.”

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