精东影业

In Veszpr茅m, it is traditional to hold the New Year鈥檚 greeting ceremony on the first Saturday of January. For many years, this event has been a joint kickoff for the city and Pannon University, and more recently, the Veszpr茅m County Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also joined in organizing it. The messages delivered at the event change every year, but in 2026鈥攚hen Veszpr茅m and the region are carrying the title of Europe鈥檚 Sports Region鈥攚hat Bal谩zs Kiss, the city鈥檚 Olympic champion and professional director of the Sports Region program, said could not have been more timely. His words spoke both to the community as a whole and to individuals alike.

Many people start a new exercise routine on January 1 with big resolutions, yet statistics are discouraging: in the European Union, 60鈥�62% of people have remained inactive for decades. According to Olympic champion Bal谩zs Kiss, failure does not necessarily stem from a lack of intention, but rather from our inability to properly manage our expectations.

Bal谩zs Kiss鈥檚 speech at the New Year鈥檚 ceremony was at once motivating, educational, and almost philosophical, laying the groundwork for facing the challenges and tasks of 2026.

The human body is slow and 鈥渇orgetful鈥� from an evolutionary perspective. It will not change its biochemical processes overnight just because someone suddenly starts dieting or running. As Bal谩zs Kiss pointed out, the human body can maintain its state for 6鈥�8 weeks without showing any visible changes. Those unaware of this often give up just before actual transformation can begin.

For this reason, the goal of the Sports Region is not to push the already active 30% of society even further, but to reach out to the inactive majority. The key solution lies in a change of mindset. Physical activity must be lifted out of the exclusive realms of sport and tourism and integrated into the foundations of education and personal well-being.

鈥淢ovement is not a luxury. Movement is a utility. Once we define it as an essential service, it becomes like water, sewage, health, or education鈥攁 utility ensures accessibility,鈥� he said. Speaking from the university podium, Bal谩zs Kiss addressed both regional communities and individuals when discussing one of modern humanity鈥檚 greatest problems: the tension between anxiety about the future and living in the present.

Humans are 鈥渢ime-traveling鈥� beings, constantly preparing for tomorrow鈥攕chool for high school, work for retirement鈥攚hile forgetting to enjoy the moment. According to the Olympic champion, sport is one of the best tools for reconnecting with the present, as the 鈥渇low鈥� experience during physical activity helps block out the noise of the outside world.

鈥淗uman life is full of terrible tragedies, most of which never even happen,鈥� he quoted philosophically. 鈥淗umans are capable of imagining anything and then stressing themselves out over it. Those who can live in the day and use the moment to feel good can also connect with sport. This is not about the 鈥榠t鈥檒l be better later鈥� mindset; it鈥檚 about bringing people back to the present.鈥�

Bal谩zs Kiss encouraged everyone not to wait for the perfect moment, the most professional equipment, or complete theoretical knowledge. The essence lies in starting and maintaining continuity. The winner is not the fastest, but the one who can stay in the 鈥済ame鈥� over the long term.

In his closing thoughts, Bal谩zs Kiss reminded everyone that control is in our hands, and change begins with a single small decision:

鈥淚 know you鈥檙e tired. I know you鈥檙e stressed. But no matter how you feel, get up, dress up, go out the door, show up, and complete 20 minutes. Because this is an endless game. In an endless game, the winner is not the one who crosses the finish line first. The winners are those who don鈥檛 stop.鈥�

After Bal谩zs Kiss鈥檚 speech, the New Year鈥檚 celebration continued in a festive mood, as Pannon University conferred honorary citizenship on former student and 1996 Paralympic champion Di谩na Eipl.

Following this, remaining in the spirit of recognizing sports achievements, the university leadership, along with Di谩na Eipl and Bal谩zs Kiss, unveiled a marble plaque in the Pannon University Aula listing the names of the institution鈥檚 Olympic champions: Di谩na Eipl and Krist贸f Rasovszky.

Finally, in keeping with tradition, Mayor Gyula Porga, Rector Dr. J谩nos Abonyi, Chancellor Zsolt Csillag, and Dr. Attila Simon, president of the County Chamber of Commerce and Industry, jointly wished the attendees a happy new year.

Photo credit: Konr茅l G谩ti, Pannon University