Hungarian Sport Research Articles

Politics in Sport Facility Development in Budapest, 1863–1945

The interaction of sport and politics has created various consequences in the evolution and development of Hungarian sport. The legal framework of sport organizations, the possibilities of elite and grassroots athletes, the incorporation of Hungary into the international sport structure and the financial public funding of physical activity have always been dependent on the dominant political powers and the international environment. The history of sport facility development and management in Budapest started simultaneously with the institutionalization of Hungarian sport in the second half of the nineteenth century, political endeavors arguably determine this progress. Until World War I, facility constructions were correlated with the Millennial Celebrations and preparation for the athletes’ participation in the Olympic Games; moreover, the intention to host the Olympics in Budapest was also crucial in policymaking. In the interwar period, the idea of ‘Justice for Hungary’ inspired political decisions related to sport, and facility constructions served the goal to create adequate circumstances to enhance physical education of the society and to host international sporting events. Legal documents, minutes of parliamentary, governmental, and municipal sessions prove that political actors of both time periods prejudiced essentially the development of sporting life and sport facility constructions of the capital.

Hungarian coaches in Cold War Cuba

ABSTRACT This essay will examine Cold War sport links between two relatively small-sized, satellite countries: Hungary and Cuba, via the activities of Hungarian coaches on the island. These started in the 1960s after the establishment of diplomatic relations and show a concentration in the first half of and the middle of the 1970s. The investigation aims to find out the main reasons and objectives for the presence of Hungarian sport professionals on the island as well as to evaluate the impact of their work. The study begins with providing a brief overview of the evolution of the foreign relations of the Socialist bloc in the 1950s and 1960s and within this context, of Hungarian-Cuban bilateral links, finally narrowing down the analysis on sport relations. In this context, two case studies are presented: one on football and the other on water polo, traditional fields of success for Hungarians, but little known / not popular on the island. The investigation – based on documents of the Hungarian National Archive and contemporary press articles – aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of international (sport) relations in the 1960s and 1970s, adding both to Sport History and New Cold War Studies.

Which factors can be used to persuade managers to start workplace physical activity programmes and what motivates employees to participate? A Hungarian study on goals, effects and motivations

PurposePhysical activity (PA) has been widely studied for its individual and societal benefits, but research on how organisations can effectively promote workplace physical activity (WPA) programmes is lacking. This article aims to examine the organisational-level benefits and value drivers of corporate PA programmes whilst also exploring the factors that motivate employees to participate in these programmes.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used the self-determination theory (SDT) and the Hungarian Sport Motivation Scale (H-SMS) – which was modified and validated from the original English SMS scale, which is one of the six most highly cited motivation questionnaires in sports – to assess employees' motivation towards sports. In conjunction, in-depth interviews with company representatives were conducted to create a mind map outlining the impacts and advantages of WPA programmes. The study involved interviews with 13 managers in Hungary and a survey completed by 728 employees.FindingsThe findings of the authors' study indicate that WPA programmes had positive effects on employee engagement, turnover reduction and absenteeism. However, the authors' results also revealed that employee motivation to participate in these programmes was primarily driven by external factors, such as identified and introjected regulators, indicating a low level of intrinsic motivation for sports in the workplace. It is important to classify employees based on their motivation and behaviour to design and promote effective PA programmes in the workplace and to increase participation rates.Originality/valueThe authors' findings indicate the importance of aligning WPA programme promotion with employee motivation. This can encourage organisations to initiate their programmes, address participation challenges and strive for higher engagement rates. Further research on employee motivation can support the development of more effective communication strategies for companies in this context.

The system of Hungarian sport financing, with special regard to public finance aspects

Sport, as a sector of national strategy, has a key role in the economic and social development of Hungary and in the successful achievement of its national economic and national policy goals. The promotion of sport, sports activities, the creation and putting in place of the conditions for playing sport is – among other things – a public task of the state, which also implies state funding and the management of public funds. Transparency, accountability and integrity are the most important principles for the use of public funds, and should be a key priority for sports funding. Sports financing needs to move from an extensive to an intensive phase, and the introduction, development and widespread use of the latest innovative technologies in the field of sport must be prioritised. Spending and investment in sport, in the sport sector, and the further conscious and thoughtful development of the sport ecosystem can be seen as a multiple return on investment.

Development of Japanese Martial Arts in Hungarian Sport Culture

Japan, home of modern combat sports, had a great influence on Hungarian martial arts. The early appearance of judo in 1906 contributed directly and indirectly to the creation of the Hungarian martial arts culture and combat sports systems. Although judo developed very slowly, it reached prominence at the end of 1960s. Thus, Hungarian combat sports culture was able to connect into international martial arts development when the ‘great boom’ of the Japanese martial arts happened. Judo clubs and dojos emerged and the judo federation as the base for the Hungarian development of Japanese martial arts such as karate, jiu-jitsu and aikido. Most martial arts have similar paths of development; therefore it is important to highlight the history of the oldest martial art, judo. The journey of judo can give direction to emerging modern sports.

Hungarian Football Coaches in Latin America in the Interwar Period

The aim is to shed light upon the intriguing – and what might seem at first sight mysterious – presence of Hungarian football coaches in the Americas in the interwar period. These years can be referred to as a Silver Age, which had preceded the success Hungary achieved in football in the middle of the twentieth century. The activities of football trainers in Latin America – such as Jenő Medgyessy, Gyula Bíró or György Orth – took place within a migration context. Consequently, the general tendencies of Hungarian emigration to Latin America form the first part of this paper. An analysis of specific push and pull factors follows; then the motives of Latin American clubs for employing Hungarian coaches, and finally, the results and impact they had, both on sport and on migratory processes in general. The methodology is content analysis of the Hungarian sport press of the given period. Academic literature from both sides of the Atlantic complements primary sources.

Motives underlying water sport tourist behaviour: a segmentation approach

ABSTRACT Sport tourism is a heterogeneous phenomenon with diverse motivations. However, the field of water sport tourism has not yet been intensely analyzed. The purpose of this study was twofold. Firstly, the study aimed to unfold the consumer profile of water sport tourists. Secondly, the role of demographic variables and behavioural attributes concerning flow experience in the activities was unveiled. Since flow has the potential of sustaining participation in physical activity pursuits as well as raising destination loyalty, its analysis in the field of leisure and tourism is of utmost interest. A quantitative research method was chosen. The subjects were 297 Hungarian water sport participants. Data were analyzed through k-means clustering and a multivariate general linear model using SPSS software. First, the cluster analysis yielded four clusters based on sport and tourism motivations, namely: Sport-oriented, Leisure-ignoring, Leisure-oriented, Social-oriented groups. Second, in the “Absorption in the Activity” dimension of flow experience, females demonstrated higher scores than males, and participants showed significant differences according to their skill levels. Furthermore, as a predictor variable, flow Absorption influenced expenses on sport lessons, while desired skill level affected the frequency of practising. These findings contribute to reaching water sport tourists more adequately.

From Defectors to Cooperators: The Impact of 1956 on Athletes, Sport Leaders and Sport Policy in Socialist Hungary

AbstractThis article examines three case studies between 1951 and 1960 to illustrate how the 1956 Revolution and mass defection of Hungarian Olympic athletes following the Melbourne Games impacted the relations between Hungarian sport leaders and athletes. While sport leaders recognised the need to soften their policies towards athletes, athletes learned that socialist Hungary, and not the capitalist West, oftentimes offered them the best opportunities for their sport career and desired lifestyle. These changes shaped the emerging politics of cooperation in the post-1956 Hungarian sport community, in which cooperative members of both groups could achieve their respective diplomatic, career and lifestyle goals.

Professional identity versus gender identity: Empirical study among top-level leaders and managers in Hungarian sport

Professional identity versus gender identity: Empirical study among top-level leaders and managers in Hungarian sport

The American Dream in Postsocialist Hungary: Melodrama, Reflexivity, and Transference in Elite Swimming

Hungarian-born, 3-time Olympic champion Katinka Hosszú and her American coach-husband Shane Tusup revolutionized elite swimming through a training methodology that produced one of the most spectacular comebacks in sport history and turned Hosszú into the financially most successful swimmer. In Hungary, they were considered the “American Dream” due to their Hollywoodish love story, can-do attitude, and professional success. The Hosszú–Tusup collaboration became a site of intercultural encounter that brought into relief the discrepancies between the so-called American mentality of democratic, capitalist professionalism, and the socialist-style paternalism of Hungarian sport. Through their May 2018 split, the public and the media deployed melodramatic conventions of meaning making to narrativize, and thus understand, a diverse set of issues such as marriage, adultery, feminism, gender relations, masculinity, coach–athlete relationships, postsocialist transformations, corruption, state paternalism, capitalism, and professionalism.

Transmaxillary anchored silicon embedded gauze plug in the post‐operative treatment of a large oromaxillary fistula caused by a supernumerary cheek tooth

SummaryA 9‐year‐old Hungarian sport horse gelding was presented to the clinic in poor condition displaying malodorous bilateral purulent nasal discharge. Oral examination revealed the presence of supernumerary 111 and 211. Bilateral diastema formation between the third maxillary molars and the supernumerary teeth with deep periodontal pockets and massive food impactions were diagnosed endoscopically. Radiography revealed inhomogenous sinus opacities in the left and right paranasal sinuses. Following bilateral oral extractions of the supernumerary cheek teeth and third maxillary molars, bilateral oromaxillary fistula formations were diagnosed (about 17 mm diameter on the right side). Bilateral frontal and right‐sided maxillary trephinations and resection of the right bulla of the maxillary septum were performed. Massive food impactions of the left and right paranasal sinuses were removed under endoscopic control. Repeated trans‐endoscopic sinus lavage was performed post‐operatively. After 2.5 months, the large right‐sided oromaxillary communication was temporarily closed with a transmaxillary anchored, gauze‐cored silicon plug on an outpatient basis. Follow‐up examination after 187 days revealed complete closure of the oromaxillary fistula and absence of sinusitis. In a 1.5‐year follow‐up control, no pathological conditions were found.

Validation of the Hungarian Sport Motivation Scale (H-SMS)

Validation of the Hungarian Sport Motivation Scale (H-SMS)

Women on ice - gender equalization

In the last decades the women started to do sports which were originally masculine (Pfister, 1990). The parity led to the slow transformation of the old-school thinking about the traditional roles of sexes (Hall, 1996). The main questions of our investigation were whether the athletes’ thought of the figure skating and the ice hockey are different according to their sport or to the existing stereotypes in the Hungarian sport society. We used semi-structured interviews to gather opinions of two different gender type icy sports’ top women athletes (figure skating and ice hockey) to see their viewpoints about the gender equalization. We can verify Metheny (1965) findings, that the social acceptance or refusal of women in sports on the basis of traditional features is changing slightly. Research questions were: Are there differences in the childhood sport socialization processes of the representatives of the two sports? What was the motivation behind their choice of sports? Are there differences in the gender identities of female athletes? What is the athletes’ opinion on one another and the representatives of the other sport? Method was semi-structured in-depth interviews and the samples were the members of the Hungarian women ice hockey and figure skating national team. According to our results family and siblings were decisive in the childhood socialization process. Early age patterns do not seem to have much influence on the selection of sport. Although among water polo/ice hockey girls there were a few tomboys. Among the ice hockey team members there were girlish girls and boyish girls as well, but among the figure skaters there were no one who was boyish. No differences can be observed in their views on gender roles concerning for example employment or housework.
 JEL Code: Z29

Efficiency of Governmental Funding in Hungary

Abstract This paper presents the initial results of a significant research project conducted under the IOC PhD Student Research Grant Program with the support of the Hungarian Olympic Committee. Macro- and meso-level analyses were conducted within the framework of this research to analyze the competitive position of the Hungarian elite sport policy system. In the following, an essential part of the research will be presented with the aim of modeling the efficiency of the Hungarian sport funding system as the increasingly international sporting competition forces governments to invest more money in elite sport development just so they can maintain their elite sport success as the supply of medals remains basically constant. Due to these diminishing returns to the scale of investment, an elite sporting system with an efficient structure will be key in future sporting success. Data collection was based on information gained through a general questionnaire and interviews with the main stakeholders of national sport federations and the Hungarian Olympic Committee, which is the main governing body of Hungarian high-performance sport. Data collection focused on the sixteen prioritized sport federations and the five team sports that benefited from a tax relief system. Secondary data were collected regarding the national public funding for sport, elite sport, and sport by sport since 2006, and Gracenote’s database was used to analyze historical performance in the different disciplines and compare Hungarian performance with that of other countries. This research will provide information to policy makers about the competitive position of Hungary in elite sport and, in this respect, explore the critical success factors that will allow Hungary to assess how best to manage its future success in an increasingly competitive international environment.

A Hosszú-távú Sportolófejlesztési Program szükségszerűsége a magyar sportban

A Hosszú-távú Sportolófejlesztési Program szükségszerűsége a magyar sportban

Coach education approach in 16 Hungarian sport federations results of the first sport organizational audit

Nowadays the Hungarian government finances the sports in many ways; one of these grant forms is the group of 16 prioritized sports (biking, boxing, fencing, gymnastic, judo, track and field, kayak-canoeing, modern pentathlon, rowing, shooting, skating, swimming, tennis, table tennis, volleyball and wrestling) which are supported notably by the Hungarian Olympic Committee (HOC) till 2020. The purpose of the 1st sport vocational audit was to identify the current status of these sports, and also to create a database in many fields as a benchmark of the development. The sport management department of the Semmelweis University, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences (TF) contracted with the Hungarian Olympic Committee (HOC) in order to carry the sport vocational audit out. A sport develops if the numbers of the athletes grow or the results of the national teams are better. The coaches are the key persons in this development, if they could gather more children into the sport or they work better with the elite athletes the development has already done. It was examined the existence of the coach education programs; all the federations were running coaching programs for adults (OKJ) in both levels (coach assistant, coach). By 14 associations existed the first level of the higher education coaching program (BSc) and in 13 federations operated the MSc coaching program as well. All these coaching courses were common programs with schools, or universities. It was no evidence found that the federations run own coaching program but coaching license system existed in two sports at the time of the investigation.

Inefficiency of the Hungarian sport financing systém

Hungary has a long successful history in the Summer Olympics, although the performance of its commercialized global team sports has been decreasing radically in the past decades. Despite the strong political and social willingness to field successful professional sports teams, the trend has not changed. This study attempts to describe the effect of governmental subsidization on professional sport’s performance with the aim of understanding why a huge gap has emerged between successful elite sports and the popular but underperforming ‘spectacular’ teamsports (football, basketball, ice-hockey, handball, water polo) in Hungary. It is important to conceptualize this paradox properly in order to better understand the particular mechanisms of decision-making and changes in sport policies. Our research reviews and analyses the role, status and position of the governing bodies of the Hungarian elite sport system since the structural reforms of 2010. A non-financial audit were conducted with the support of the Hungarian Olympic Committee in which the sixteen prioritized national sports federations were analysed, by interviews with leaders of the federations and filling out a questionnaire by experts of the associations.

The results of the non-financial audit at 16 elite Hungarian sport federations

The purpose of our investigation was to analyze the current operational status of 16 elite sports federations (biking, boxing, fencing, gymnastic, judo, track and field, kayak-canoeing, modern pentathlon, rowing, shooting, skating, swimming, tennis, table tennis, volleyball and wrestling), which have been the recipients of extra funding by the Hungarian government. The Hungarian Olympic Committee (HOC) contracted our university to run the non-financial audit, including interviews with leaders of the federations and completing a questionnaire by experts of the associations. Firstly, we examined the associations’ organograms and discovered that 31.25% of the federations have not had any organogram and that only 18.75% had a current, topical and detailed one. Secondly, we investigated the written missions of the sport organizations and found that 31.25% don’t have any, while 43.75% of the federations had a current, topical and detailed mission. Thirdly, we explored the vision of the organizations and discovered that 56.25% of the federations have not had any, while only 12.5% had current, topical and detailed ones. Lastly, we investigated the marketing and promotion strategies and found that 43.75% of the organizations hadn’t any, while only 18.75% of the associations had a current, topical and detailed one. As a benchmark, the results of the non-financial audit will help to measure the governmental donation’s effect, and it is also useful to clarify the operational failures in the elite sport federations.

Incentive System in Hungarian High Performance Sport

Abstract This study will attempt to describe the role of existing incentives which have a significant effect on Hungarian sport's performance. The aim of the paper is to understand why a large gap has emerged between successful elite sports and the popular but underperforming spectacular sport. According to the concept of dual competition, in addition to sport results, the analyzed fields also concern competition for resources, particularly for the attention of supporters and sponsors. The methodology of the analysis is fundamentally economic in nature; however, qualitative methods are also given emphasis, as the analyzed topic has specific characteristics. Based on new institutional economics, the study presumes that the behavior of organizations is determined by the decisions of bounded rational individuals, and highlights the significance of the created mechanisms and institutions.

Evaluation of the length of competitive life in Hungarian sport horses.

The aim of this study was to analyse the duration of the competitive life of jumping horses in Hungary to assess the potential for genetic evaluation and to get information about the risk factors affecting jumping performance of sport horses. The data set included lifetime performance in jumping competitions for 8475 horses born from 1992 onwards with records between 1996 and 2011 (32.7% were right-censored). Longevity was measured as the number of years spent in the competition. Discrete time survival model included fixed effects of gender, age at first competition, and the time-dependent effect of competition level. All fixed effects were highly significant (p < 0.001). The highest risk of ending the race career was estimated for horses competing in the lowest level (category 1) events. The smallest risk was found in horses competing in the highest category. The culling risk for stallions was 15% higher, for geldings 20% lower when compared to mares. As the age at the first competition result increased, the risk ratio also increased. Risk ratios of horses starting as 8 years old or older were 56% higher than those of 5-year-old horses. The longest time in sport tracks belonged to horses starting their career as 4 years old. Their culling risk was 20% lower than those of 5-year-old horses. The heritability of the length of competitive life was 0.17. Breeding values were predicted for each animals, and 47 showed an accuracy greater than 0.60. The clear benefit of the analysis was shown by comparison of offspring to extreme stallion groups.