Six categories were honoured at the event, with wheelchair fencer Richard Osváth, triathlete Akos Vanek and football player Szabalics Szilárd all receiving the "fair play in action" accolade. 

Lectures and coach Zoltán Molnár and academic Ferenc Takacs were honoured in the "sports service" category, with journalists and others to have contributed to the sports industry also recognised.

Nine lifetime achievements were handed out, with recipients including Karoly Palotai, a member of the Hungarian gold medal winning football team at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games who went on to referee at the 1974, 1978 and 1982 FIFA World Cups, and Atlanta 1996 bantamweight boxing champion Kovács István.

During the evening, Hungary's International Fair Play Committee President Kamuti Eugene recalled the founding of the panel exactly 50 years ago in 1965, with the Gala ceremony introduced more recently in order to raise the profile of the event.

It is essential the spirit of fair play does not continue to be pushed into the background in sport today, the official argued, adding people should do "all they could" to keep it a priority.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Hungary's Youth and Sports Minister Istvan Simicskó, who claimed how sport involves many important values, including character education and creative community, but, most importantly, teaches qualities of sportsmanship and adherence to rules.

"Today we live in a world where less attention is paid to sport special appearance, so it is important to disseminate the spirit of fair play," he added.

Related stories
May 2015: Budapest set to officially enter 2024 Olympic race after Mayor gives full backing
December 2014: Agenda 2020 has created "historic opportunity" for Budapest Olympic bid, claims leading official
May 2014: Hungarian Olympic Committee honours swimmers with Fair Play awards