Seven leading women sports journalists from four continents gathered in Hungary for a high-level professional program hosted by the Hungarian Sports Journalists’ Association (HSJA) alongside Sport Forum Hungary 2025.
Budapest | By AIPS Media
The Hungarian Sports Journalists’ Association organised an international initiative in connection with Sport Forum Hungary 2025, inviting renowned women sports journalists from seven countries for expert panel discussions, visits to key sports institutions, and exchanges on Hungary’s Olympic heritage and long-term sports strategy.
The program was coordinated by Zsuzsa Csisztu, Vice President of both HSJA and AIPS, with support from AIPS continental presidents, who helped identify the participating journalists. Delegates came from Panama, Colombia, Taiwan, India, Algeria, Azerbaijan and Slovakia, representing a broad cross-section of global sports media.
Participants toured the Hungarian Olympic Committee headquarters and met Olympic champions Zsolt Gyulay and László Fábián, as well as IOC Member Balázs Fürjes. They also visited the University of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary and expanding its English-language sports media and diplomacy programs.
The group received a behind-the-scenes tour of the Puskás Aréna, venue of the 2026 UEFA Champions League Final, and explored the newly opened Puskás Museum. Slovak media operations specialist Michaela Grendelová praised the venue for its modern working conditions for journalists.
During Sport Forum Hungary, the delegates joined discussions on women’s sports visibility, commercialization, media representation, sports technology and global coverage disparities. Speakers emphasized that only eight percent of global sports media coverage focuses on women’s sports.
HSJA President György Szöllősi said the initiative aimed to create tangible opportunities for international collaboration and knowledge exchange. AIPS Vice President Csisztu noted that progress requires more than conversation, stressing the need for active support, learning opportunities and cultural understanding.
The HSJA has expanded its international engagement in recent years, using Sport Forum Hungary as a platform to highlight Hungary’s Olympic heritage and foster global cooperation in sports journalism. The 2025 edition of the event brought together 1,700 participants and nearly 160 speakers from four continents.