The "University Athlete of the Year" awards were conferred upon many of those who returned home from last year's Summer Universiade in Naples with a medal, as well as all students who won medals at European Universities Championships and World Championships.

More than 100 athletes were recognised, with the winners including canoe sprinter Tamara Csipes, open-water swimmer Kristóf Rasovszky, swimmer Boglárka Kapás and the Hungarian women's water polo team that triumphed at Naples 2019.

Judoka Krisztián Tóth and the Hungarian men's water polo team, both of whom won bronze medals at Naples 2019, were also winners. 

"The Government is fully aligned with the HUSF value system," Tünde Szabó, state secretary for sport in the Hungarian Ministry of Human Resources, said.

"These award-winning champions are exemplary as they have made an impact in the world of sport and also academics.

"They are role models who give us faith for our daily lives."

Also present at the awards night was Tamás Schanda, Deputy Minister of State for Parliamentary and Strategic Affairs at Ministry of Innovation and Technology, and János Józsa, President of Hungarian Rectors' Conference.

They were joined by László Murai, President of National Conference of Student Governments, and HUSF President Ádám Kiss.

At the event, the Rectors of the University of Dunaújváros and Eszterházy Károly University were awarded with the "Alfréd Hajós Gold Plaque".

László Karger Kocsis, retired chief of protocol at the Ministry of Human Resources, received the HUSF Life Work Award, which was handed out by Alf Lazer, honorary member of the International University Sports Federation.

A special award for the "Most Sporty University of the Year" was also presented, with the University of Physical Education in Budapest finishing first in the points-based, year-long Hungarian University National Championship competition.

The awards ceremony was followed by the HUSF Executive Board meeting, where the next steps were discussed in the process of Budapest bidding for the 2025 edition of the Summer Universiade.

The Board unanimously approved the Alfréd Hajós Plan 3.0, which includes the bid as an integral part.

The Alfréd Hajós Plan 3.0 will be submitted to the Government as part of a plan for the development of university sports.

In November, HUSF secretary general Mózes Székely said he believes hosting the 2025 Summer Universiade would come at the right time for Hungary, with venues completed and anniversaries set to be marked.