FINA and the event organising committee are pleased to announce the opening of media accreditation for national and international media to the 19th FINA World Championships Budapest 2022.
FINA’s showpiece event will take place from 17 June to 3 July in Budapest, Hungary and will feature the aquatics events disciplines of swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming and open water swimming.
With an event prize pool of USD 5,720,000 and coming off a season punctuated by world records, the competition is set to feature some all-time great swimming, diving and water polo performances in the Hungarian capital.
Look for Budapest to shine as well. With a deep sporting fan base and passion for aquatics sport, Budapest event organisers hosted a memorable 17th FINA World Championships 2017 that set new records for ticket sales, broadcast viewers and digital audiences.
Close to half a million fans in 2017 saw 11 new world records, 21 championship records and 8 world junior records set. A record 172 countries broadcast the event that featured 2,303 athletes and 29 nations represented on the podium.
1. ACCREDITATION
We invite all media representatives wishing to cover the 19th FINA World Championships Budapest 2022 to submit their accreditation applications individually through the FINA GMS Media Accreditation portal before 17 May 2022, 23:59 CET.
The registration is for all members of the media, including rights-holding broadcasters, written press, photographic press, online media, and writers and photographers working for publications and/or websites of the FINA National Member Federations. All international registrations submitted through the FINA GMS will be subject to approval by the FINA Communication Department. All domestic registrations will be subject to approval by the Budapest 2022 Organising Committee Media Department. Holding a current AIPS membership will aid in one's application, particularly for international media.
If you have already attended a FINA event, please use your existing FINA GMS account. If you have any issues with registration, please contact gms@fina.org.
Accredited event media will collect and validate their cards at the Main Accreditation Centre next to the Duna Arena. Those wishing to collect their accreditation cards at the satellite water polo sites in Debrecen, Sopron or Szeged, should visit the respective local accreditation sub-centres at the venues.
A valid travel document containing a photo must be presented to receive media accreditation.
The recording of video material inside any competition or training venue at FINA events is strictly reserved for rights-holding broadcasters. Any breach of this restriction may result in cancellation of the accreditation.
2. ENTRY VISAS
Media Accreditation to the 19th FINA World Championships Budapest 2022 will not function as a visa and will not authorise entry into Hungary. Each media representative will be responsible for ensuring that they have the travel document required for entry.
Budapest 2022 will provide approved accredited media with a visa invitation letter through GMS to support their visa application process, if required. Hungarian authorities have waived the visa application cost for all accredited media. Fees charged by External Service Providers or representing the Schengen Member States may apply.
More information on the visa entry procedures can be found here: https://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/how-to-apply-for-visa
3. ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDIA AND BROADCASTERS
Three hotels have been secured for accredited media in Budapest, all conveniently located near the four competition venues that will be used in the Hungarian capital.
All media rooms will be available at preferential rates that will include breakfast, Wi-Fi, and taxes (except the city tax). Any additional services are excluded from the rates and must be covered at each guest’s expense.
The hotels are:
- Hotel Crowne Plaza**** (single: €199 – twin: €270)
- Hotel T62*** (single: €175 – twin: €210)
- Hotel Benczur** (single: €98 – twin: €120)
(SEE ANNEX FOR FURTHER DETAILS AT THE END OF THIS DOCUMENT)
Rooms can be booked on a first-come, first-served basis through the FINA GMS until 23:59 CET on 17 May 2022.
Official transportation shall be provided only for media and broadcaster representatives who booked their rooms in the official hotels through the FINA GMS.
The Budapest 2022 Organising Committee strongly recommends booking your room(s) as soon as possible in the official hotels. As of now, the championships are planned without keeping the participants in a Covid-19 free bubble – however, if the pandemic situation requires, FINA and the Organising Committee retain the right to implement the necessary measures and may request all accredited participants to stay in official hotels for the event. In this case, the Organising Committee shall not reimburse any media representatives who previously booked their accommodation in non-official hotels.
Media representatives interested in being accommodated at the location of satellite venues used for the water polo prelims and crossovers, in the cities of Debrecen, Sopron or Szeged, should contact Mr Laszlo Szogi at accommodation@fina-budapest2022.com
4. TRANSPORTATION
The Budapest 2022 transport plan has been designed to provide a smart and sustainable event, with Accredited Media staying at the official media hotels provided Media Transportation free of charge.
Transportation will be available between the official Media hotels and the competition venues, as well as between the venues on the following routes:
- Duna Arena–Margaret Island (WP, AS)
- Duna Arena–Lake Lupa (OWS)
Transportation for the satellite water polo venues in Debrecen, Sopron, and Szeged might be an on-demand service, with details still TBD.
Exact routes and timetables will be available in the official Media Guide (more: see below).
5. COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Click here to view the competition schedule for the 19th FINA World Championships Budapest 2022. Please note that the schedule is subject to change. The link provided in this section will be updated with the latest information, should any event schedule change.
6. COMPETITION VENUES
Click here for more information about the cities and venues for the 19th FINA World Championships Budapest 2022
7. MEDIA FACILITIES
Budapest 2022 will provide a comfortable working environment for all Accredited Media, delivering a range of facilities and services in line with the level established at previous FINA World Championships.
Main Press Centre (MPC)
The Main Press Centre will be in the Duna Arena, beside the swimming and diving competition venue. Accredited Media Transportation will be provided to and from the three approved media hotels to the Main Press Centre from 2 hours prior to the first event of the day to 2 hours after the conclusion of the final competition.
The Main Press Centre will offer the following:
- Work decks with power outlets and internet access
- Help Desk staffed by media operations volunteers
- On-demand printing of extended start lists and results
- Wi-Fi and LAN-cable internet connection
- Nikon Professional Services for accredited photographers
- Media lounge with light snacks, coffee and mineral water
Media facilities and services at venues
Across the 19th FINA World Championships competition venues in Budapest, the Accredited Media will receive support from the Budapest 2022 Media Operations team, have a range of dedicated facilities and services and enjoy the same standard that you normally do at the FINA World Championships.
The following facilities and services will be provided to Accredited Media at the four competition venues in Budapest:
- Venue media workrooms, offering work desks with power outlets and dedicated, media-only internet access, a help desk staffed by media operations volunteers, on-demand printing of extended start lists and results, and a media lounge area with free snacks and hot and cold beverages
- Limited ENG camera positions (only for rights-holding broadcasters)
- Photo positions
- Premium Mixed Zone (only for rights-holding broadcasters)
- Mixed Zone (for all accredited media and broadcasters)
- Media stands or reserved media seats. Due to the limited capacity and the high media interest in the events at the Duna Arena, media seating may be limited and allocated in a way TBD.
- Media conferences will only be held at the Swimming competitions, evening sessions only, and after the Water Polo finals. The Mixed Zones will be the main place for interaction between the media and the athletes.
Further information on media services and facilities including maps of the venues will be available in the 19th FINA World Championships Budapest 2022 Media Guide, which will be published on the event website in May 2022.
Similar facilities and services will be provided to Accredited Media at the three satellite competition venues that will be used in the Men’s and Women’s Water Polo Tournaments of the 19th FINA World Championships Budapest 2022. The three satellite venues of Debrecen, Szeged, Sopron and will be used for the preliminary round of the men’s and women’s water polo tournaments.
Regarding broadcasters’ facilities and services, including IBC, rate card and more, the rights-holders shall receive direct communications.
8. OFFICIAL BRIEFINGS
An official Accredited Media briefing for the written and digital press will be held on 17 June 2022 at the Main Press Centre, with the time determined later.
The Official Photographer Briefing for photographers covering Swimming, Artistic Swimming and Water Polo will be held on 17 June 2022 at the Main Press Centre, with the exact time determined later.
The Official Photographer Briefing for photographers covering Diving and Open Water Swimming events will be held on 25 June 2022 at the Main Press Centre, with the exact time determined later.
9. RATE CARDS
This will be available soon – interested parties should contact the Organising Committee, see the contact details below.
10. KEY CONTACTS
FINA Media Relations – International Press and Photographers
Contact: Torin Koos, FINA Communication Manager
Email: torin.koos@fina.org
FINA Broadcast Relations
Contact: Peter Hall, FINA Senior Broadcast Manager
Email: peter.hall@fina.org
Budapest 2022 Media Relations – Domestic Press and Photographers
Contact: Gergely Csurka
Email: gergely.csurka@fina-budapest2022.com
Budapest 2022 Broadcasters Relations
Contact: Viktoria Vamossy
Email: viktoria.vamossy@fina-budapest2022.com
ANNEX: BROADCAST AND MEDIA ACCOMMODATION IN BUDAPEST
CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL ****
Address: Váci út 1-3, 1062 - Budapest
Distance from venue: 4 km
Distance from airport: 21 km
Price (B&B only!): SGL: 199 € / TWN: 270 €
T62 HOTEL ****
Address: 62 Teréz körút, 1066 – Budapest
Distance from venue: 5 km
Distance from airport: 21 km
Price (B&B only!): SGL: 175 € / TWN: 210 €
HOTEL BENCZÚR***
Address: 35 Benczúr utca, 1068 - Budapest
Distance from venue: 5 km
Distance from airport: 21 km
Price (B&B only!): SGL: 98 / TWN: 120 €