For several Hungarian competitors, the Olympic qualification tournament is at stake at the 68th István Bocskai International Boxing Memorial Tournament. The competition started on 16th of January  with  smaller but stronger competitors than usual. The competition, which lasts until the 20th of January, will also feature Olympic competitors, world and European champion boxers.

According to the official data of the Hungarian Boxing Association, a total of 125 boxers from 11 nations, Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia, Mongolia, Poland, Kazakhstan, Romania, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine and Hungary  will compete at this year’s Bocskai Memorial Tournament. The competition started almost a month earlier than usual, as the European Olympic qualification tournament will take place at the end of February.

The first day started with the match of the Vecsési Box Club boxer Kata Pap, who lost to her Mongolian opponent.

‘I felt very good in the ring. It should be known that I really like such competitive matches. My opponent was the Mongolian Olympian in the 50 kilos category, so she has already made it to Paris. I knew I was going to be a tough opponent, but I think I held my own in the ring. I gave everything I could, I feel, ’ Pap Kata assessed.

From a domestic point of view, the men’s 51 and 57 kilogram category promises exciting battles. Attila Bernáth from Debrecen will also be interested in the former group.. In several weight groups, Bocskai can decide on the Hungarian candidate for the Olympic qualification competition. The roster of the quota-earning tournament will be selected by the association after the commemorative competition.

‘Every single competition is very important for every Hungarian competitor, especially in the year of the Olympics. There are still two qualifications left, two international qualifications, and I think that Bocskai can be a great preparation station,’ Attila Rácz, the President of the Hungarian Boxing Association’s executive board stated.

Due to the qualifying tournament in February, fewer boxers than usual came to Debrecen this time, but the competitors  are still strong. The Ukrainian team includes, for example, the world champion and Bocskai champion Yuriy Zakharjeev and the Olympic silver medalist and world and European champion Oleksandr Hiznyak. Alongside them, the Kazakhs also arrived with age group Asian champions and youth world champions in their ranks.

‘These days, the city organises a small Olympics, a European Championship or a Small World Championship in boxing for sports lovers. The fact that so many people accepted our invitation also indicates the quality of the tournament, ’ Deputy Mayor Lajos Barcsa said.

The finals of the memorial tournament will be held on Friday, on the 19th of January and Saturday, on the 20th of January. The program for the qualifiers on Wednesday, on the 17th of January and on  Thursday, the 18th of  January will start later than the preliminary announcement, at 3:00 p.m. The program of the following competition days is unchanged compared to the previously announced one.

After several months of absence, the multiple Hungarian champion Szabina Szűcs returned with a points win at the opening day of the 68th István Bocskai István International Boxing Memorial Tournament in Debrecen, where twenty matches were held. 

Of these, perhaps the most attention was focused on the match between the 57 kg National Team of Vecchia and Rebeka Dobos. 

Szabina Szűcs had not yet been able to defend her title at the national championships in December, but she was ready for her  Bocskai start and won her first match with a unanimous score. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day came in the men’s 71 kg category, when Oroyowve Isaac, silver medallist of the National championship, lost to bronze medallist at the championships a month ago, Rómeo Búza.

Source: debrecen.hu, Dehir

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As Attila Rácz said before the signing ceremony, the association thanks the city of Debrecen for its support to organise the 68th edition of the event, which will run from the 16th to the 20th of January 2024. 

The event has grown over the decades to become one of the most important boxing events in Europe, and will be particularly important in 2024, the year of the Olympics. As in the past, a very high quality field is expected to be assembled and the organisers are very confident that this tournament will also feature competitors who will be seen in the Olympics or in major professional tournaments in a few years’ time. 

According to Attila Rácz, every Bocskai Memorial Tournament is very important, but as the next one will be held in an Olympic year, it is a good opportunity for the competitors to show where they stand in their Olympic preparations. 

He is sure that the Bocskai Memorial will have a reputation for bringing together a prestigious international field in Debrecen. He thanked the city of Debrecen for organising the event, for its support and especially for the fact that this support is not a one-off, as this is the 68th time that the event is being held.

According to Lajos Barcsa, Deputy Mayor of Debrecen, the 68th edition of this commemorative competition at the beginning of next year is of great significance. 

It is a matter of pride that this is certainly the most patriotic tournament series in the city, which has been organised in cooperation with the Hungarian Boxing Federation for decades. As always, the organisers have signed a contract to ensure that the competition is of high quality and results.

The city of Debrecen will again provide the venue – the sports hall of Oláh Gábor Street – and a ring for the competition, accommodation, transport, medical supervision, security and smooth running of the event for 138 foreign participants, and the Hollóházi porcelain souvenirs and medals for the winners and runners-up of the men’s competitions. 

The city welcomes boxing lovers from Debrecen, from all over the country and beyond its borders. The adult day ticket for each day of the tournament will cost HUF 1200, the student day ticket (over 14 years old with a student card) will cost HUF 600. The matches are free of charge for pensioners over 65 and children under 14.

Lajos Barcsa thanked Attila Rácz, the president of the executive body of the Hungarian Boxing Association, for his cooperation, mentioning that the president was born in Debrecen, so he now has official ties to the city. The deputy mayor also thanked Sándor Szabó, president of the DVSC Boxing Club, who was present at the signing ceremony, for having organised the Bocskai Memorial Tournaments for many years before the municipality took over the task, and for being a dedicated financier of the city’s boxing sport for decades.

Sándor Szabó thanked for the words of appreciation and said that it is 25 years since he founded his boxing club, and for the last 18 years his team has been among the top three in the national rankings, which is a unique achievement for a privately run club. 

He expressed the hope that this will continue. Sándor Szabó also mentioned that in the 68th Bocskai István Bocskai International Boxing Memorial Tournament, the DVSC Boxing Club – and thus Debrecen – will be represented by two women and two men: Anna Győrfi, Nóra Komjáthy – a very successful youth athlete, and this will be her first adult competition – as well as László Bernáth and Attila Bernáth, who is expected to win.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu

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Deputy Mayor of Debrecen Diána Széles, Director of the Debrecen Institute of Primary Care and Health Promotion (Daefi) Csaba Papp, Éva Judit Hámori, Director of the Szent László Greek Catholic High School and  Vocational School, announced the new opportunity at a press conference on the 6th of November 2023.

As Diána Széles said, the aim of the “Move, Debrecen!” movement, launched two years ago in the spirit of the Caring City idea, was to get more people moving around the city. The initiative has been so successful that the movement now offers free exercise for almost all age groups. In its first year, more than 17,000 people attended the programmes. The second year also saw the launch of the school programme, with nearly 1,500 primary and secondary school children moving twice a week. Recently, more than 1,000 young people danced in a flash mob in Debrecen’s main square. The video of this event was viewed by more than 1 million 660,000 on the Facebook page of the local newspaper.

Diána Széles said that more people are expected to perform the same choreography during the Advent Fair. The Szent László Greek Catholic High School and Vocational School recently joined the movement, which two weeks ago organised a playful movement competition with 20 teams of primary school students and offered to make their gym available for other programmes of the movement. The Pósa Street venue proved to be too small; the gymnasium of the Szent László Greek Catholic High School and Vocational School became the new venue for the Zumba and gym classes.  

Diána Széles also said that now there are a total of six places in the city – mainly community centres – where Zumba and yoga classes and back exercises can be attended.  On Wednesdays, there is an outdoor programme of community running and walking. 

She reported that in two years of the movement, more than 38,000 people have taken part in the outdoor and indoor programmes and health screenings. Including participants in the school programme and the flashmob, this number has now exceeded 41,000. Diána Széles recommended that those interested in regular exercise should visit the social media page of the movement, where they can also find out about the programmes available at the Szent Anna Street health centre.

Director Éva Judit Hámori said that they were happy to join the movement. The school has a long tradition: for 57 years, it has been training health professionals for Debrecen and the region, and as a high school, it has also been successfully preparing young people for higher education. Its gymnasium is a 960-square-metre steel-framed tent with a recurved pitch and 198 seats. Their students play sports here regularly, not only during PE lessons but also in the afternoons. Now, the gates are open to welcome adults who want to exercise regularly.

According to Csaba Papp, Director of Daefi, the movement was motivated by the realisation that the city’s residents lead a lifestyle of physical inactivity, which can lead to a number of health problems.  “We needed to get people moving and provide them the opportunity to do so,” he stressed. 

There are other municipal movements in the country similar to the one in Debrecen, but here, the free programme is year-round. 

Csaba Papp stressed that the main message of this programme is to make people love exercise and to pass on the message that all kinds of exercise are useful and healthy.  Half an hour of regular exercise every day can even save lives.  The school’s gymnasium can provide many exercise opportunities, as it has a huge space. The timing of the Zumba classes is such that it is convenient for those who want to attend after work, even after their children have left school. Csaba Papp also said that the 1,500 children participating in the school programme are the equivalent of a primary school year in Debrecen. He also thanked the school for providing the new venue for the movement.

Zumba classes are held in the school’s sports hall (Debrecen, Thomas Mann Street 16.) on Mondays and Fridays between 6.00 and 7.00 pm and on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 3.30 and 4.30 pm. Participation is free of charge.

Source and photo credit: Debrecen.hu

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The occasion was celebrated with a walk with the Mayor of Debrecen, László Papp, Deputy Mayor Diána Széles and DAEFI Director Csaba Papp. The Heart Friendly Thematic Walk has been launched more than 200 times since the movement’s inception and has attracted more than 8,300 participants. Debrecen residents can move twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Experience over the past two years shows that there is a strong demand for regular exercise programmes in Debrecen. There are health promotion programmes in six indoor locations (DEMKI Homokkert, Józsa, Csapókerti Community Centres, DAEFI Pósa Street and Szent Anna Street Centres and the DMJV Family and Child Welfare Centre) and three outdoor locations (Arany János Square, Liget Square, Nagyerdő Heart Friendly Walk). 

So far, the outdoor gym sessions have been running from April to October; however, from the 6th of November, the programmes will continue in the gymnasium of the Szent László Greek Catholic High School and Technikum during the winter season. The new venue will host Zumba classes on Mondays and Fridays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and gym classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The “Move, Debrecen!” movement provides all sports equipment for the tournament.

Launched two years ago in the spirit of the “Caring City “ idea, the aim of the “Move, Debrecen!” movement was to get as many people as possible moving around the city. The initiative was so successful that the movement now offers free exercise for almost all ages every weekday instead of the initial two days a week.

In its first year, the movement moved more than 17,000 people. The second year also saw the launch of the school programme, with nearly 1,500 primary and secondary school children moving twice a week. Recently, more than 1000 young people danced in a flash mob in Debrecen’s main square. More are expected to perform the same choreography during the Advent Fair. In the two years of the movement, more than 38,000 visitors have taken part in outdoor and indoor activities and health screenings. Including participants in the school programme and the flashmob, this number has now exceeded 41 thousand.

In September this year, the Health Promotion Centre of the movement opened on Szent Anna Street, where mental health and activities to promote it play an important role.

Source and photo credit: Debrecen.hu

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Now, the third operating ward of the Ear, Nose and Throat and Head and Neck Surgery Clinic was equipped with a new operating table, defibrillator, artificial light and emergency trolley. An operating door was installed to separate the air spaces, and the modern infrastructure for anaesthesia was set up.

Previously, simple operations, such as tonsillectomies, were performed under local anaesthesia in this operating ward. However, ear, nose and throat care is increasingly moving towards more complex operations under anaesthesia.

“We want to develop head and neck surgical oncology at the clinic, requiring similar upgrades. We would like to thank the management of the Clinical Centre for supporting the development,” Balázs Sztanó, Associate Professor and Director of the Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, said.

Thanks to the investment, it is now possible to perform anaesthesia operations in three operating wards, with the help of specialists from the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care.

One of the main objectives of the clinic’s director is to develop oncological surgery. One of the results of his work is the fact that five radical laryngectomies have been carried out in the last month and a half alone. In addition, Balázs Sztanó also wants to make significant progress in the field of hearing rehabilitation, in the implantation of implantable hearing aids.

“My goal is to increase the number of surgical procedures for hearing aid implantation in Debrecen in the future with the help of the clinic’s specialists. I want to develop the clinic into a national centre in this field,” the director said. 

Since the integration of the Ear, Nose and Throat and Head and Neck Surgery Clinic in March, more than two thousand operations have been performed at the institution. Balázs Sztanó also pointed out that they work closely with the Facial, Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery Clinic, with specialists from both institutions often performing more complex oncological operations together.

The clinic’s outpatient turnover has already exceeded 60,000 this year. Reducing the waiting lists in specialist clinics is a priority, and capacity has been increased to achieve this. The new operating ward block will also help to reduce waiting times.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu & unideb.hu

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A new state-of-the-art MRI machine with a field strength of 1.5 tesla was recently installed at the Medical Imaging Clinic, replacing an old one with a lower field strength. The equipment will be used primarily for the diagnosis of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

The clinic director said at the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday that the procedure is becoming more and more widespread in medical terms.

“One of the most critical areas is oncological care, where an increasing proportion of cancer patients must undergo MR scans to determine therapy. In any case, these tests must be carried out within 14 days in Hungary today,” Ervin Berényi pointed out.

The Diagnostic Imaging Clinic is the sole diagnostic and therapeutic services provider in a county of almost 600,000 inhabitants. The clinic has 100 doctors and 200 staff and is one of the largest organisations in the Clinical Centre.

In 2022 alone, 50,000 CT scans and 25,000 MRI scans were performed at the Clinical Centre. With new developments, such as the launch of the MR today, these numbers will increase even more,”  Zoltán Szabó, President of the Clinical Centre, said.

Gyula Elischer was entrusted with the organisation of the X-ray Department in 1921. György Balla, a member of the foundation’s board of trustees of the university, stressed that the first Hungarian radiology professor made the Debrecen X-ray department the centre of Hungarian radiology. This past imposes a massive duty on today’s radiology clinic, which can be fulfilled by improving the equipment and human resources.

An important milestone in this continuous development is the inauguration, 102 years after the establishment of the radiology clinic, of the current MRI machine, which is already working; of course, we can hear it buzzing,” he said.

The investment was the result of an oncology-cardiology tender and cost almost half a billion forints.

Source: dehir.hu | Photo credit: Pixabay

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Two hundred students from twenty schools in Debrecen took part in the competition. The aim is to get this age group moving as much as possible.

In connection with the Move, Debrecen! school programme, a two-day competition entitled “Move with St Stephen” was organised. On the 24th and 25th of October 2023, students in the seventh and eighth grades could take part in a playful competition.

The “Move Debrecen!” school programme was launched this school year and 45 institutions have already joined. The competition has further expanded the programme.

“We organise weekly, regular physical activity sessions in schools from the first to the sixth grade. We have put the seventh to eighth graders in a different category, and we want to get them moving with playful surprises,” Deputy Mayor of Debrecen Diána Széles said.

The competition also gave teams an insight into the faith of Greek Catholics.

“This is an opportunity not only for the students of our institutions, but also for all the inhabitants of the city and even the whole region. We are very grateful that we had the opportunity to provide this venue,” István Seszták, Deputy Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Hajdúdorog, said.

A total of 200 students from 20 primary schools in Debrecen are taking part in the “”Move with St. Stephen” competition.

“For 57 years, the St. Stephen Greek Catholic High School and Technical College (Szent László Görögkatolikus Gimnázium és Technikum) has been training health professionals for Debrecen and the region. With this event, we would like to draw attention to the importance of training health professionals,” Éva Hámori, head of the institution, said.

The Debrecen Institute of Primary Care and Health Promotion (Daefi) also carries out annual screening tests in this age group. In their experience, a sedentary lifestyle causes many problems.

“Currently, 58% of our children suffer from some mild, moderate or severe postural problems, or have flat feet or scoliosis. This is why physical activity is so necessary,”  Csaba Papp, Director of Daefi, pointed out. 

Several organisations joined the “Move Debrecen!” programme, including the Debrecen Sports Centre (Debreceni Sportcentrum) , the DVSC Handball Academy ( DVSC Kézilabda Akadémia) and the Mikepércs-based NGO Játékidő Sports Association (Játékidő Rekreációs Sportegyesület).

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu

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According to the regulation, all health and healthcare workers, medical students, patients and visitors must wear masks covering the nose and mouth at all times in patient care areas.

However, wearing a mask is not compulsory for patients in a health care institution in the ward where they are accommodated, for minors under the age of six and persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities. In addition, to ensure unhindered communication, patients with hearing impairments and persons communicating with them or assisting them in their communication are exempted from the obligation to wear a mask for the duration of the conversation.

In addition to the mandatory wearing of masks for the protection of in-patients and staff, a visiting ban has been introduced in the Internal Medicine Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Unit of the Kenézy Gyula Campus Internal Medicine Clinic, Building D and in the Hematology Unit of the Nagyerdei Campus Internal Medicine Clinic, Building B.

The management of the Clinical Centre advises that in the units where a visiting ban has yet to be imposed, relatives should only visit patients in justified cases and only if they do not have upper respiratory symptoms.

The management of the University of Debrecen and the Clinical Centre asks for the cooperation and patience of patients and relatives.

The above measures apply until revoked.

Source: dehir.hu |Photo credit: Pixabay

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The Municipality of Debrecen pays special attention to environmental protection. Since 2019, the Sustainable Debrecen Award has been awarded to those business organisations, institutions and working groups whose activities align with Debrecen’s sustainability efforts to build the future economy.

In 2022, a new concept for the award was developed based on the proposals of the Green Task Force.

The aim of the new competition is to recognise high quality and outstanding work by farming organisations and communities that are environmentally aware and sustainable and that work to protect and improve the built and natural environment of Debrecen and to promote an environmentally conscious approach.

The Sustainable Debrecen Award has been awarded to Mamamibolt, ITK Group, Green Drops Farm Kft., NI Hungary Kft., Eurings Zrt., Szinorg Universal Zrt., Szepesi Virágkertészet Kft., FAG Magyarország Ipari Kft., Mastiff Kft. and Sensirion Hungary Kft.

Based on the decision of the Environment and Urban Development Committee, Decathlon Magyarország Kft. received the Sustainable Debrecen Award in 2023.

Ákos Balázs, deputy mayor of Debrecen, said at the ceremony that the city of Debrecen places great emphasis on the promotion of environmentally friendly transport, in which Decathlon is an excellent partner, as the department store is one of the largest distributors of the necessary equipment. He added that the city contributes to the high quality of cycling and other means of transport. In 2018, the length of the cycle path network in Debrecen was less than 80 kilometres, while today it is 108 kilometres.

Ákos Balázs said that in recent years, cycle paths have been built in areas such as the city centre, 8.5 kilometres in the eastern part of the city and 3 kilometres towards Kismacs.

Regarding future developments, the deputy mayor said that the construction of the Pallagi Road cycle path will soon start up to Pallag, and similar developments are expected in Józsa towards the Northwest Economic Zone.

Bence Nagy, the company’s Green Ambassador, accepted the award on behalf of Decathlon Magyarország Kft., who said that it was a great pleasure for them to win the award, as Decathlon has taken a number of measures in the store that contribute to sustainability. He added that they want to continue to be an active player in green measures, encouraging everyone to take action for a sustainable future.

Decathlon Magyarország Kft.

Decathlon was founded in 1976 by Michel Leclercq together with 6 sports-loving teammates. The first Decathlon store was opened in Englos in the north of France. Since then, they have been present in 61 countries worldwide in the sports equipment and sports goods market.

In Hungary, they opened their first store in 2005 in Budaörs on 4000 square meters. Since then, they have doubled the size of this store, which has become the largest sports store in Central Europe. Their logistics centre in Hatvan has been operating since 2010 and serves not only Hungarian department stores and Hungarian webshop customers, but also supplies products to several other countries. They operate 24 stores in 16 counties in Hungary.

Decathlon Magyarország Kft. aims to be useful for people and the planet. Their mission is to make the joy and benefits of sport available to as many people as possible in a sustainable way.

Their sustainable development goals include contributing to the creation of a carbon neutral economy. They make sustainability a priority in the selection of their raw materials.

Their plan is based on three pillars: developing people, preserving nature and creating sustainable value.

Their specific commitments in these three areas are conservation, the enjoyment of sport in a protected environment and sustainable value creation. In doing so, they are transforming their company to use sport for health and overall well-being.

Their circular economy measures include a second chance (customers with a Decathlon registration are offered the chance to return tried or beauty defective products and resell them at a reduced price, thus avoiding waste) and a workshop (providing repair and maintenance services).

Within the group, sustainability training courses will be organised nationally from February 2022 under the title Sustainable Decathlon. By mid-May 2023, more than 1,000 colleagues will have been successfully trained. In Debrecen, 3 people will be dedicated to this project as “green ambassadors”.

Every year, a national Decathlon challenge for colleagues is implemented, called Bring Your Bike to Work (BAM). The event lasts for a month, where the kilometres cycled by colleagues who arrive by bike are added up. The store that collects the most kilometres is awarded the first prize of the challenge.

This year, the Debrecen store cycled 1,384 km. The national figure is 50,445 km.

In addition, a covered bike storage and a bike service point are provided for customers and colleagues throughout the year.

In the store’s external area, approximately 10,000 m2 of green surfaces are managed. Green islands have been installed in many parts of the parking lot. The store’s green areas are cleaned once a month with the help of their colleagues.

The company’s employees also participate in tree planting, as 60-70 Turkestan elms were planted two years ago. In addition, more than 200 trees and shrubs are in the parking lot and their own area.

They are also trying to increase the green surfaces in the interior spaces. As of October 1st, 2022, soft drinks in PET bottles were phased out and replaced by water dispensers. Although this measure generated a serious loss from the commercial side, sustainability aspects came to the fore.

In addition, the company uses energy-saving LED bulbs, the intensity of which can be regulated in the company’s interiors and the parking lot. They also use environmentally friendly hygiene tools.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu

Once again, the Municipality of Debrecen has awarded the Sustainable Debrecen Award to several applicants. 

On 13th of October 2023, the award was presented to Dechatlon Magyarország Kft. by Deputy Mayor of Debrecen Ákos Balázs.

The Municipality of Debrecen pays special attention to environmental protection. Since 2019, the Sustainable Debrecen Award has been awarded to those business organisations, institutions and working groups whose activities align with Debrecen’s sustainability efforts to build the future economy.

In 2022, a new concept for the award was developed based on the proposals of the Green Task Force.

The aim of the new competition is to recognise high quality and outstanding work by farming organisations and communities that are environmentally aware and sustainable and that work to protect and improve the built and natural environment of Debrecen and to promote an environmentally conscious approach.

The Sustainable Debrecen Award has been awarded to Mamamibolt, ITK Group, Green Drops Farm Kft., NI Hungary Kft., Eurings Zrt., Szinorg Universal Zrt., Szepesi Virágkertészet Kft., FAG Magyarország Ipari Kft., Mastiff Kft. and Sensirion Hungary Kft.

Based on the decision of the Environment and Urban Development Committee, Decathlon Magyarország Kft. received the Sustainable Debrecen Award in 2023.

Ákos Balázs, deputy mayor of Debrecen, said at the ceremony that the city of Debrecen places great emphasis on the promotion of environmentally friendly transport, in which Decathlon is an excellent partner, as the department store is one of the largest distributors of the necessary equipment. He added that the city contributes to the high quality of cycling and other means of transport. In 2018, the length of the cycle path network in Debrecen was less than 80 kilometres, while today it is 108 kilometres.

Ákos Balázs said that in recent years, cycle paths have been built in areas such as the city centre, 8.5 kilometres in the eastern part of the city and 3 kilometres towards Kismacs.

Regarding future developments, the deputy mayor said that the construction of the Pallagi Road cycle path will soon start up to Pallag, and similar developments are expected in Józsa towards the Northwest Economic Zone.

Bence Nagy, the company’s Green Ambassador, accepted the award on behalf of Decathlon Magyarország Kft., who said that it was a great pleasure for them to win the award, as Decathlon has taken a number of measures in the store that contribute to sustainability. He added that they want to continue to be an active player in green measures, encouraging everyone to take action for a sustainable future.

Decathlon Magyarország Kft.

Decathlon was founded in 1976 by Michel Leclercq together with 6 sports-loving teammates. The first Decathlon store was opened in Englos in the north of France. Since then, they have been present in 61 countries worldwide in the sports equipment and sports goods market.

In Hungary, they opened their first store in 2005 in Budaörs on 4000 square meters. Since then, they have doubled the size of this store, which has become the largest sports store in Central Europe. Their logistics centre in Hatvan has been operating since 2010 and serves not only Hungarian department stores and Hungarian webshop customers, but also supplies products to several other countries. They operate 24 stores in 16 counties in Hungary.

Decathlon Magyarország Kft. aims to be useful for people and the planet. Their mission is to make the joy and benefits of sport available to as many people as possible in a sustainable way.

Their sustainable development goals include contributing to the creation of a carbon neutral economy. They make sustainability a priority in the selection of their raw materials.

Their plan is based on three pillars: developing people, preserving nature and creating sustainable value.

Their specific commitments in these three areas are conservation, the enjoyment of sport in a protected environment and sustainable value creation. In doing so, they are transforming their company to use sport for health and overall well-being.

Their circular economy measures include a second chance (customers with a Decathlon registration are offered the chance to return tried or beauty defective products and resell them at a reduced price, thus avoiding waste) and a workshop (providing repair and maintenance services).

Within the group, sustainability training courses will be organised nationally from February 2022 under the title Sustainable Decathlon. By mid-May 2023, more than 1,000 colleagues will have been successfully trained. In Debrecen, 3 people will be dedicated to this project as “green ambassadors”.

Every year, a national Decathlon challenge for colleagues is implemented, called Bring Your Bike to Work (BAM). The event lasts for a month, where the kilometres cycled by colleagues who arrive by bike are added up. The store that collects the most kilometres is awarded the first prize of the challenge.

This year, the Debrecen store cycled 1,384 km. The national figure is 50,445 km.

In addition, a covered bike storage and a bike service point are provided for customers and colleagues throughout the year.

In the store’s external area, approximately 10,000 m2 of green surfaces are managed. Green islands have been installed in many parts of the parking lot. The store’s green areas are cleaned once a month with the help of their colleagues.

The company’s employees also participate in tree planting, as 60-70 Turkestan elms were planted two years ago. In addition, more than 200 trees and shrubs are in the parking lot and their own area.

They are also trying to increase the green surfaces in the interior spaces. As of October 1st, 2022, soft drinks in PET bottles were phased out and replaced by water dispensers. Although this measure generated a serious loss from the commercial side, sustainability aspects came to the fore.

In addition, the company uses energy-saving LED bulbs, the intensity of which can be regulated in the company’s interiors and the parking lot. They also use environmentally friendly hygiene tools.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu

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The Wizz Air Debrecen Airport Run was held for the sixth time on 23rd of September 2023. 

The special feature of this event is that participants can run where planes normally fly, on the runway of Debrecen International Airport.

Three thousand tickets were sold out in record time, and runners were able to compete in six races. Schaeffler also sponsored a one-kilometre equal opportunities race for 400 children and adults with disabilities, while BMW Group Factory Debrecen supported the “Search for the most sportive schools campaign, which enabled 600 schoolchildren to participate free of charge. In addition to the running races, families could also enjoy accompanying activities, including an air show.

Among the runners was Lajos Barcsa. The deputy mayor ran the 5 km race. He said that similar events and the municipality’s “Move, Debrecen!” campaign can help a lot to keep the people of Debrecen healthy.

Wizz Air Debrecen Airport run is also special because it gives participants a better understanding of the airport.

“Running is like travelling: you only need one pair of shoes and one suit, and you can discover new landscapes and countries. That’s why they sponsor similar events in Dubai, for example, and in Debrecen,” András Radó, Wizz Air’s Corporate Communications Manager, said.

Tamás Király, Managing Director of Debrecen International Airport Kft., said that the primary aim of the run was to raise awareness of the importance of sport and a healthy lifestyle and that as part of their corporate responsibility, they also organised charity events with Schaeffler and BMW Group Gyár Debrecen. He also added that they would like to expand the event in the future so that even more runners can take part.

Péter Szabó, managing director of Schaeffler Debrecen Kft., said that in line with their company’s philosophy of equal opportunities, they wanted to give as many people as possible the opportunity to participate in the event.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu

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