Paolo Barelli has signed a hosting agreement for the 2020 European Aquatics Championships in Budapest ©LEN

Paolo Barelli, President of the European Swimming Federation (LEN), has officially signed the hosting agreement for the 2020 European Aquatics Championships scheduled to be held in Budapest.

The decision to award the Championships to the Hungarian capital was announced by the LEN in July.

It is one of three major continental events that the city is due to stage in 2020.

They will also host the European Water Polo Championships in January and the European Open Water Championships in June on Lake Balaton.

The city, currently bidding to host the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympics Games, also hosted an International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Aquatics Gala in January of this year and is the location for next year's FINA World Championships.

Budapest is also a proposed venue to stage the inaugural European High Diving Championships in August 2020.

Barelli officially signed the agreement alongside the Minister for National Development Miklos Sesztak, and Hungarian Water Polo Federation President Denes Kemeny.

"Both the European Aquatics Championships and the European Water Polo Championships have been growing bigger and bigger in all fields," said Barelli after the signing ceremony at the Ministry of National Development. 

"We are glad that these prestigious events will be hosted by Hungary in particular."

Budapest is set to host a number of high profile swimming events over the next few years ©Getty Images
Budapest is set to host a number of high profile swimming events over the next few years ©Getty Images

Action at the 2020 Europeans will take place in the brand new, state-of-the-art aquatic centre currently under construction for the 2017 World Championships. 

It features two Olympic size pools and a diving pool, and will accommodate 5,000 spectators in 2020, down from 15,000 at the World Championships.

Also at the signing was Hungarian Swimming Association (MUSZ) President Tamas Gyarfas, who has come under fire in recent weeks for a supposed lack of support towards leading Hungarian athletes.

Three-time Rio 2016 gold medallist Katinka Hosszú was one of those calling for his resignation after she claimed her relationship with the official has been negative ever since he allegedly urged her to "stop swimming and retire" in 2008.

Hosszú also claimed that training conditions within Hungary have worsened since 2015.

Hungary's new International Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission member Daniel Gyurta supported her claims after he wrote on Facebook that there is "no order" around MUSZ.

The national body has vowed to "address" the growing number of complaints from leading stars.