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Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

Part of Stay Ahead of the Games UK in Hungary

23rd April 2012 Budapest, Hungary

The Olympic spirit

Last week I beat an Olympic champion at tennis. OK, an ex-Olympic champion. A water-polo ex-Olympic champion. And it was Wii tennis (the video game). And he’d never played before. But a win’s a win, right?

It was at a fantastic event which the Embassy supported. A competition for able-bodied children and children with disabilities to celebrate 100 days to go to the London Olympics. We supported it together with the Hungarian Paralympic Committee. More than 100 children competed in swimming, tennis, fencing, boxing, kayaking, table tennis, running and 3-pointers throwing competitions. And the winners got London Olympic gear – including the two mascots Wenlock and Mandeville. There are nice stories behind the mascots. Take a look at the mascots’ website. And while the serious competition was going on I got a chance to challenge an Olympian.

The mix of Olympic and Paralympic is a key part of the London events. As the country to have hosted the first ever disability sports event at Stoke Mandeville in 1948, we have a strong international reputation for leading the way in disability rights and raising awareness of disability sport.We’re really proud that it was the UK which launched sport for disabled people and that we’ve continued to champion the Paralympics since.

The Wii competition happened in the afternoon. That morning we’d organised a 100m race to celebrate the 100 days to go mark. I didn’t distinguish myself quite so well there. Beaten by roughly 40 of the 65 children who ran with me. Plus quite a few current Hungarian Paralympians and ex Hungarian Olympians.

But again it was a really good event which we held at the Marczibányi Sport Center in Buda. It was great to see so many youngsters so excited by the coming Games and the spectacle we’re expecting in London.

So, less than 100 days to go now. We’re in the home stretch for the preparations. In London pretty much everything is ready: on time and on budget. And here we plan just one or two more events in the build up.

I can’t wait.

About Jonathan Knott

Jonathan Knott was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Hungary in March 2011 and arrived in Budapest in February 2012 to take up his post. He left this post on April…

Jonathan Knott was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to
Hungary in March 2011 and arrived in Budapest in February 2012 to take
up his post. He left this post on April 2015.
He has previously held a variety of diplomatic posts at home and
abroad, several with a particular focus on commercial and corporate
finance issues. Jonathan has served in a number of positions in the
British Diplomatic Service since joining in 1988:
Before his appointment was Deputy Head of Mission and Director for Trade and Investment in South Korea from 2008 to 2011.Between 2005 and 2008 he held the post of Deputy Finance Director in the FCO.From 2000 to 2005 he served as First Secretary (Trade, Corporate Affairs and Finance Negotiator) in UKDel OECD Paris.From 1996 to 2000 he was First Secretary (Head of Political/Economic/Aid Section) in Mexico.From 1995 to 1996 he worked in the FCO as Deputy European Correspondent at the EU Directorate.Between 1991 and 1995 he served as Third later Second Secretary (Political / Press and Public Affairs) in Havana.From 1990 to 1991 he was Desk Officer in the FCO’s First Gulf War Emergency Unit.Between 1988 and 1990 he worked as Desk Officer in the FCO in the Anti Drugs Cooperation Department.
Jonathan holds an MA in law from Oxford University, and he is a
member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. He speaks
English, French, Spanish and Hungarian. He is married to Angela Susan
Knott and has one daughter and two sons.

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