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Hungarians to compete in 20 events at Rio Olympics

Xinhua, July 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Although there are still some loose ends regarding the size of Hungary' s Olympic team, 162 athletes have qualified so far to represent the country in 20 sports events, the Hungarian Olympic Committee announced on Thursday.

Fencer Aron Szilagyi, a London gold medalist, was chosen to carry the national banner, and the team will be headed by the president of the Hungarian Olympic Committee Zsolt Borkai.

The first group of athletes are set to leave Budapest on July 30, for the Games, which begin on August 5. The plane carrying top medalists is scheduled to return to Hungary on August 24.

The team took the Olympic Oath in a separate ceremony on Thursday afternoon. Borkai welcomed them, congratulating all team members on their selection and warned them that there would be zero tolerance for any and all performance enhancing drugs.

Hungarian President Janos Ader reminded the gathering that Hungary have participated in the Olympic Games since they were established in 1896, and noted that Hungary were eighth on the overall medals table despite its size (Hungary has just under 10 million people). He listed many of the past' s gold medalists and pointed out that millions of people would be watching the Olympics on television. Ader said the Hungarians needed to know that millions of fans would be rooting for them.

Also present at the ceremony was state secretary for sports Tunde Szabo, and gymnast Agnes Keleti, winner of 5 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics. At age 95, Keleti, who currently resides in Israel, is the oldest Hungarian Olympic gold medalist. Endit