Szilvia Bonyhádi, Member of the Veszprém-Balaton 2026 Team, Selected European Ambassador for Sport

The core mission of the Veszprém-Balaton European Region of Sport 2026 program is to make daily physical activity and community experiences accessible to everyone across the region's municipalities. This strategic objective has now taken on a new international dimension, as Szilvia Bonyhádi, a key member of our team, has been awarded the title of European Ambassador for Sport under the SANE (Sports Network of European Ambassadors) program. The goal of this Erasmus+-funded initiative is to build a pan-European network of ambassadors that promotes social integration, health promotion, and intergenerational solidarity through the values of sport. The project brings together recognized sports leaders, elite athletes, and community professionals to inspire the European public to lead more active lifestyles.

Through her work in the sports sector, Szilvia has achieved numerous accomplishments, particularly in the areas of inclusion and equal opportunity. Her appointment as a European Ambassador for Sport is a natural extension of this professional commitment.

She believes that most people are already well aware of the health benefits of physical activity, so the real challenge is not a lack of information. Rather, it is helping people take that first step and maintain an active lifestyle over the long term. Many people face invisible barriers—whether a lack of motivation or self-confidence, past negative experiences, anxiety, limited time, or simply the feeling that sports are not for them—that prevent them from being physically active. We see it as our primary mission to actively help people overcome these internal and external barriers, rather than relying solely on encouragement or repeated reminders.

This empathetic yet highly intentional professional approach also defines our day-to-day work within the Veszprém-Balaton European Region of Sport 2026 program. It views sport as a powerful tool for community building, capable of bringing people together regardless of age, background, or ability, while measurably improving quality of life. Through its professional guidance, the program places a strong emphasis on making physical activity accessible to everyone, especially residents of small communities, parents of young children, and people living with health conditions or disabilities.

Szilvia embodies these values and firmly believes in the power of collaboration among local communities, sports clubs, local governments, and civil society and professional organizations. As a European Ambassador for Sport, she is now sharing the lessons learned from the inclusion model she developed—which has already been successfully implemented in our region—with international partners. She firmly believes that lasting progress is built on knowledge sharing and cooperation.

By leveraging the opportunities offered by the SANE program, our region's achievements are gaining visibility across Europe, while we are also able to bring the continent's best practices back to our local communities.