Budapest has submitted the first part of its application to host the 2024 Olympic Games to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Balázs Fürjes, the government commissioner for the bid, announced on Wednesday. The application was submitted on Tuesday, one day before the official deadline. Hungary’s parliament voted in July to support the Hungarian capital’s bid to host the 2024 event, while Budapest’s Municipal Council voted to support the bid at the end of June. The Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB) first proposed that the government and Budapest’s municipal council should consider bidding for the 2024 games last February.
Last May, Budapest Mayor István Tarlós said he “whole-heartedly” supported Hungary’s aspirations to host the event, arguing that it would “benefit the country in all respects”. A June report on the feasibility study pertaining to the Budapest bid said “hosting the Olympics in Budapest is a feasible and worthwhile undertaking”, adding that the Hungarian bid is a viable contender for the 2024 games. The Budapest City Council approved the proposed venues where the capital would organise the events late last month. The council approved two venues made up of altogether seven clusters for the Olympics: the Danube area made up of Margaret Island, the Olympic Park and Óbuda Island with the second venue encompassing the Heroes’ Square, Puskás Ferenc Stadium, the Fair Centre and Népliget (People’s Park).
The Hungarian capital faces tough competition as Los Angeles, Rome, Paris all compete for the right to host the grandiose sports event. However, more than half of the Hungarians (53 percent) are supporting the concept that Budapest should host the Olympics, a public opinion telephone poll revealed in December.
via hungarymatters.hu and MTI photo: László Róka – MTI