Budapest will be the first European venue for a wheelchair rugby tournament from January 22-25. The “Maximus Project” tournament will also be the Hungarian team’s first major domestic challenge. The six-country tournament is co-sponsored by the Ministry for Human Affairs.

Deputy State Minister for Sports Pál Szerekes said at the press conference announcing the event that within the efforts to promote sports for disabled people, team sports should take precedence. He said it was a great achievement that Hungary could host an event for this sport which is costly, but also very popular in Anglo-Saxon countries.

Szekeres thanked Budapest’s 12th district for the support, adding that state support in this case state funding is not dependent on results, as the sport is still in its infancy in Hungary. He said he hoped this event will give a boost to the sport and that within a few years Hungary might have its own national league comprising four to six teams.

Pál Szekeres (49) is a fencer and the only athlete who has won medals at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

(Ministry of Human Resources)