In 2024 the Hungarian Table Tennis Association (MOATSZ) celebrates its 100th anniversary with a grand Centenary Event to honor the sport’s remarkable history. The celebration in the Azúr Hotel in Siófok was attended by numerous domestic and international guests paying tribute to Hungary’s rich table tennis legacy.
Among the distinguished attendees were the ETTU Acting President Pedro MOURA Vice President for Finances Sandra DEATON and Secretary General Pierre KASS. At the Centenary Event were also present: ITTF Secretary General Raul CALIN Honorary President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee and former President of Hungary Pál SCHMITT Head of the Sports Diplomacy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Dániel GYURTA; Cabinet Chief at the Ministry of Defence’s State Secretariat for Sports Lajos BERKÓ and Hungarian Olympic Committee Secretary General László FÁBIÁN.
The event featured a theatrical performance re-enacting key moments from MOATSZ’s founding in 1924 by notable figures such as György ULLMANN János SULYOK Béla KEHRLING and Dr. Kornél HORVÁTH. The performance highlighted Hungary’s pivotal role in the international growth of the sport with special reference to Budapest hosting the first European Table Tennis Championships in 1958.
In his speech MOATSZ President Imre KOVACSICS reflected on the sport’s century-long history emphasizing the legendary achievements of Viktor BARNA who won 22 world titles and the continuous presence of Hungarian athletes in the world’s elite. He proudly noted that Hungary as a founding member of both the ITTF and the European Table Tennis Union played a vital role in the sport’s global development. KOVACSICS also mentioned Hungary’s last world championship victory in 1979 in Pyongyang achieved by the “Golden Team ” cementing the nation’s status as one of table tennis’ most successful countries.
A special highlight of the celebration was the unveiling of a limited edition commemorative stamp and envelope by the Hungarian Post designed in honor of the centenary. Dr. Péter MIKECZ Director of Marketing and Communications at Hungarian Post introduced the commemorative set celebrating table tennis’s popularity at both amateur and professional levels.
The gala also featured several lifetime achievement awards including honors for Éva KÓCZIÁN and László VOLPER with posthumous awards presented to Roland JACOBI and György ULLMANN. The evening concluded with the ceremonial cutting of a grand birthday cake and a gala dinner where attendees reminisced about the sport’s glorious past and expressed their hopes for an equally successful next century.
