Hungarian Parliament in Budapest (Photo: hunszabi – Indafoto)
Budapest mayor Istvan Tarlos told a news conference Wednesday that Budapest supports Hungary’s Olympic bid with heart and soul because organizing the 2024 Summer Olympics would benefit the country from every aspect. His remarks were in contrast to his thinking last year when he thought it was too soon for Budapest to bid, considering 2028 as a possibility instead.
Tarlos was sceptical at first about a bid, but the adoption of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Agenda 2020 reform program and statements from IOC chairman Thomas Bach convinced him to firmly support Hungary’s bid, pointing out that Budapest is already “more or less suitable” for organizing the Games and will become even more so by 2024 as a result of developments running independently from the Olympic bid.
He cited several completed developments, including the building of the Ludovika military academy, the Academy of Music, the Groupama Arena, the “Tuskecsarnok” sports arena, and sports facilities in the cities of Debrecen and Gyor. Other facilities under construction include the new Puskas Ferene Stadium, and the aquatics complex to be built next to the Dagaly open-air spa in Budapest.
Budapest Mayor Istvan Tarlos says he supports Budapest 2024 Olympic Bid (Istvan Tarlos Website Photo)
Other infrastructural developments have already been completed or will be by 2020, such as the metro line 4, lengthened tram routes, public utility and flood protection schemes, the Margaret Island and road repairs.
The mayor said, “Budapest and Hungary are ready to hand in their bid to organize the 2024 Olympics by right and with a good chance of winning”.
He added that the municipal assembly will vote on the application on June 23.
Applications for the 2024 Summer Olympics are to be submitted by September 15, 2015. The IOC will decide on the host city in Lima Peru in 2017 – Boston, Hamburg, Rome and possibly Paris or others will be in the running for the Games.
