World Aquatics has made significant progress in its transition to Budapest with the historic opening of its interim office in the Hungarian capital. The inauguration ceremony was attended by World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, and notable athletes, including four-time Olympic swimming medallist Chad le Clos, six-time World Aquatics Championships water polo medallist Felipe Perrone, and double Olympic medallist Pernille Blume.
This new interim office, expected to house 25 new staff members, will play a crucial role in supporting World Aquatics’ long-term vision of relocating its headquarters from Lausanne, Switzerland, to Budapest. The facility includes a state-of-the-art content studio aimed at enhancing athlete engagement and expanding the federation’s digital presence.
During the event, President Al-Musallam highlighted the significance of the move and the city’s rich history in aquatics. “Budapest has proven itself to be an outstanding host for our events and athletes,” he said. “This step marks an exciting chapter for our organisation and will help elevate the profile of our sports globally.”
The decision to relocate the headquarters was approved at the 2023 World Aquatics General Congress in Fukuoka, Japan. Budapest, renowned for its world-class aquatics facilities such as the Duna Arena and the Alfred Hajos National Swimming Stadium, will host the World Aquatics Swimming World Championships (25m) in December and the World Aquatics Championships in 2027.
While the move to Budapest progresses, the city of Lausanne will continue to be a key location for World Aquatics. It will be home to the World Aquatics Foundation and the Aquatics Integrity Unit, which oversees the integrity of aquatic sports worldwide.
This transition marks an important milestone for World Aquatics as it continues to grow and expand its global impact across all six aquatic sports: swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving.
