World Aquatics partners with MOL, MVM and OTP to support growing presence in Hungary

This includes the opening of a new headquarters in Budapest, formally approved by Member Federations at the 2023 World Aquatics General Congress in Fukuoka, Japan. An interim headquarters was opened in the Hungarian capital in November 2024.

International energy company MOL Group is headquartered in Budapest with an active presence in more than 30 countries. It is a long-time supporter of sport through a series of partnerships with athletes and teams, and will work closely with World Aquatics as the organisation progresses with its transition to Hungary.

MOL – New Europe Foundation, founded by the Hungarian Government and MOL Plc is dedicated to performing a range of public tasks. The partnership with World Aquatics fits to its engagement in various areas of talent development and sport in Hungary and beyond.

MVM Group is headquartered in Hungary with an active presence in 23 countries, providing energy to millions of businesses and homes across the Central-Eastern Europe region. It also holds significant expertise in the production of carbon-neutral energy, and has committed to achieving net carbon neutrality by 2050.

The partnership will contribute to World Aquatics’ energy efficiency planning for its new headquarters in Budapest.

OTP Group is one of Central and Eastern Europe’s leading independent banking groups, and brings over 75 years of experience of market-leading financial infrastructure. OTP will support World Aquatics’ activity in the region by providing tailored banking services for World Aquatics in Hungary.

“MOL Group, MOL – New Europe Foundation, MVM Group and OTP Group have strong global reputations, and these agreements come at the perfect time as we advance with the development of our new headquarters in Budapest and open an exciting new chapter.

“These partnerships will enhance our operations and benefit the global aquatics family. We look forward to working closely with MOL Group, MOL – New Europe Foundation, MVM Group and OTP Group.”

Member of the Board of Trustees of MOL New Europe Foundation and COO of MOL Hungary György Bacsa said: “With full commitment, we support every cause and organization that creates value for Hungary and provides opportunities for our talents. And we already owe a great deal to aquatic sports: there is no generation that hasn’t cheered for and rejoiced over a gold medal won at an international competition, and perhaps there is no other Olympic sport that has made so many Hungarians world-renowned. Aquatic sports are about noble competition, world-class talent and records, as well as the conscious and persistent training behind them, the excellent coaches, and the clubs. I am proud that MOL and the MOL-New Europe Foundation can contribute to this success story.”

MVM Group CEO Mátrai Károly said: “This collaboration is a strategic choice: we believe that supporting sporting talent, performance and the wider athletic community is just as much a part of responsible corporate operations as energy security. Joining World Aquatics fits well with MVM’s development trajectory – we work for development with domestic foundations, regional ambitions and an increasingly strong international presence, along with values that lead to success in the world of sports.”

OTP Group CEO Csányi Péter commented: “We are delighted and proud to welcome the decision of World Aquatics to relocate its global headquarters to Budapest. This move further strengthens the role of the Hungarian capital and our country in international sports. As a banking group with Hungarian roots and international presence, the OTP Group is, as of today, the World Aquatics Global Banking Supplier.”

Lausanne will remain home of the Aquatics Integrity Unit, which provides independent oversight of all integrity-related matters in aquatics, and the new World Aquatics Foundation, continuing the organisation’s proud history in the city.