Page 101 - Olympism in Socialism

person can engage in sports at practically no cost
to himself.
METTLE. Courage, temperament, aptitude
are there in abundance. Centuries of stormy
national history have conditioned Hungarians to
fight their way out of tight sports. The term
“Magyar mettle” is quite well known in the world
of sports. In many competitions or games,
Hungarian athletes and players have been known
to rally from hopeless positions. The Hungarian’s
temperament, his endurance and toughness
make him capable of great efforts.
HERITAGE. In every field of sports there is a
line of great predecessors, whose feats are a
powerful stimulant to new achievements. Major
clubs with a long and distinguished past like the
Budapest Honved, Ujpest Dozsa, Vasas,
Ferencvaros or MTK attract like magnets a legion
of sports enthusiasts.
PUBLIC SPIRIT. Some ten per cent of the
population — 1.7 million persons — are
registered members of sporting societies and
clubs; half of them active athletes, the other half
supporting members. Hundreds of thousands go
in for sports as a pastime, recognising that in
present-day conditions it is necessary for man to
do something for his health. One in six
Hungarians engages in some sport or other.
Those other 1-hungarians who do not actively
engage in sports attend games, watch sports
programmes on TV or read the sports sections of
the newspapers. For Hungarians, sports is the
Number One interest overriding any other matter.
SPORTS AND INTELLIGENTSIA. There are
strong links between sports and the arts and
professions, for artists often pick up sports for
themes of their work. One of them is Zsigmond
Kisfaludi Strabl, the grand old man of

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