The World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2023 is currently underway. With the big finals on the horizon, the third and last leg of the event has already kicked off in Hungary. The Danube Arena, or Duna Arena, is hosting the event in its pools. The same venue was initially planned for the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, for some reason, the arena could not host the event and is now a place for swimming enthusiasts to cheer for their favorite athletes.

With the finals approaching in a few hours, tonight’s event is set to dazzle as world-class swimmers, after showcasing their prowess in the previous legs, vie for the coveted World Cup crown.

The Danube Arena looks all set for tonight’s action

Swimmers around the world had already reached the Hungarian capital for the final action, and the athletes seem to be enjoying their stay in the city. It is quite evident from the video that the Hungarian Swimming Federation has posted on their official Instagram with an accompanied caption that reads, “Even foreign star swimmers speak Hungarian; they visit our country so often!” In this captivating post, swimmers like Chad Le Clos, Lani Pallister, Adam Peaty, and Michael Andrew are seen speaking Hungarian.

Apart from these swimmers, other big names who expressed their elation are Kaylee McKeown of Australia, who is considered one of the primary contenders for the crown. Chinese swimming prodigy Qin Haiyang, who stood atop the podium in the last two legs, is also running for a clean sweep in Budapest. The arena where these athletes have assembled has had a brief history in the past; it has been through a rollercoaster ride in terms of hosting.

The brief history of Danube Arena

Also known as the Dag?ly Budapest Aquatics Complex, it was constructed between 2015 and 2017 and was designed by Marcell Ferenc. However, the place has witnessed several near misses in terms of hosting numerous prominent sporting events, which include the 2021 World Aquatics Championships. The building also got a renovation in terms of space, as it was considered “too small” to host the 2024 Paris Olympics, and it also lost its hosting rights due to the project’s tight deadline.

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As of 2023, the arena boasts two Olympic-size swimming pools, a diving pool, and a short-course training pool. Its seating capacity has also increased; the place initially had 5,000 permanent seats and an additional 8,000 temporary seats; they were later removed after successfully hosting the 2017 World Aquatics Championships. Now the arena is home to the big World Cup finals, where athletes from around the world are locking their horns for the podium finish.

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