Talented young international athletes will have the opportunity to study at Semmelweis University in the future thanks to a new scholarship program. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector, Husain Al-Musallam, First Vice President of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), and representatives of the Hungarian Swimming Association and the Hungarian government.
The International Swimming Federation (FINA) plans to launch a new scholarship program for talented young athletes active in water sports, which will allow them to win scholarships to various international universities. Semmelweis University has expressed its intention to participate in the planned FINA program, and a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed accordingly at the Senate Hall of Semmelweis University. In addition to Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector and Husain Al-Musallam, First Vice President of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), Dr. Sándor Wladár, President of the Hungarian Swimming Association and Dr. Balázs Fürjes, Secretary of State in charge of the developments in Budapest and its agglomeration zone, also signed the document.
I am proud that Semmelweis University has the opportunity to participate in this promising scholarship program, and I am confident that the participating athletes will also perform well both in their studies and their sports careers
– said Dr. Béla Merkely on the occasion of signing of the Memorandum of Understanding. The Rector also added that he, both as a physician and a water polo player, is in favor of providing young athletes with the opportunity to develop and gain international experience in both fields.
Husain Al-Musallam, First Vice President of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), pointed out when signing the statement that this is an important day for future talented athletes and prospective Semmelweis students participating in the program.
I believe that sports and education have to be in collaboration with each other in order to work together for society and to provide support for people
– emphasized Husain Al-Musallam, adding that he looks forward to the future cooperation with Semmelweis University.
Dr. Sándor Wladár, President of the Hungarian Swimming Association, pointed out that the planned scholarship program of FINA is a perfect example of how financial, athletic and professional support may be provided to the younger generation. He also added that the Hungarian Swimming Association is proud to participate and provide support to the program.
According to Dr. Balázs Fürjes, Secretary of State in charge of the developments in Budapest and its agglomeration zone, water sports, especially swimming are of paramount importance to the Hungarians and the Hungarian government. He also recalled that Hungary’s first Olympic gold medal was won by a swimmer, Alfréd Hajós. As he highlighted, Budapest is an extremely good location in the middle of Europe with a long tradition of water sports, where there are universities offering high-quality English-language training programs.
“Through the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship program, the Hungarian state has been providing young international people with the opportunity to study in Hungary for years, which provides a good basis for a partnership between FINA and Semmelweis University as well as other Hungarian universities to co-finance the studies of young water athletes in Hungary”, Dr. Balázs Fürjes said.
In the framework of the scholarship program designed by FINA, international athletes would have the opportunity to study at various universities around the world, and in the meantime, they would also be able to further develop their sports careers and train locally. As far as the signed Memorandum of Understanding is concerned, the parties will determine the specific details of the project in the following months, including the funding framework and the expected athletic and study academic results to be fulfilled by young swimmers, water polo players, diving athletes as well as athletes of other types of water sports.
The cooperation between Semmelweis University and FINA has been close for years, and Dr. Béla Merkely is also a member of the FINA Sports Medicine Committee. Furthermore, he was also the leader of the medical team of the 2017 FINA World Championships held in Budapest, and Semmelweis University was responsible for the medical insurance of this year’s LEN European Aquatics Championships event organized in Budapest.
Tamás Deme
Photo: Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University
Translation: Katalin Illés-Romhányi
