BUDAPEST 2024 PACKAGE

Senior Budapest 2024 Olympic Games Bid officials came to Doha this week to present plans to stage the Olympic Games in Budapest, Hungary. A high-level delegation of nine bid leaders and bid ambassadors highlighted the benefits of Budapest as the Right Sized city for the 2024 Olympic Games to the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).

Already named as European Capital of Sport 2019, Budapest is a high-value city, with an excellent transport infrastructure and a long-term sustainable development plan. The Budapest 2024 Olympic Bid proposes a compact and intimate Games footprint in the capital, and a truly nationwide Games that features sport in six other Olympic cities. Budapest 2024 is dedicated to deliver an on-budget and inclusive Olympic and Paralympic Games in one of the top 20 most peaceful countries in the world. Sports-mad Hungary was one of the founding members of the IOC and has participated in the Games since 1896. Hungary is the only country ranked in the top ten of the all-time Olympic Medal table that has not yet hosted the Olympic Games.

The Budapest 2024 Olympic Games delegation to Doha outlined major advantages of staging the Olympic Games in stable, secure, more affordable and accessible mid-sized global cities, such Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, which offer alternative Games settings beyond larger capitals and megacities that have hosted many previous Games.

Budapest 2024’s plans have been developed in partnership and in discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and key Olympic stakeholders, in line with reforms to make it easier and more affordable for cities to bid and stage the Olympic Games, allowing the Games to spread to new city locations and regions.

Following a sustained period of venue and transport infrastructure development, major sport events such as next summer’s Budapest 2017 FINA World Championships and European Olympic Youth Festival are playing an important role in Hungary’s vision and plans for national growth and development.

One of the key points that the Budapest delegation will be making in their presentation, is that Olympic athletes and sports fans will be closer to the venues, the city experience and closer to the celebrations in Budapest than in larger city environments.

The Olympic Games venues, transport hubs, support services and facilities will be located very close to accommodation for Olympic athletes, officials, and spectators. In Budapest there are 26 competition venues, 24 sports and 34 disciplines located within a 7-kilometre radius from the city centre. All venues have multiple modes of transport.

The strength of the Budapest Bid is built on cross-party government backing, an extensive network of existing high performing venues and transport systems, and a proven capability and experience to deliver major events and infrastructure on budget and on time. There is strong national support for the Olympic Games too. A recent poll showed that 74% of adults aged 18-33 would be proud if Budapest hosted the world’s largest sport event.

The economic outlook is also good for Budapest. In the last week, Hungary has been upgraded by Moody’s to its second highest investment tier, based on a “stable, growth-friendly policy environment”. This upgrade has followed Standard and Poor’s and Fitch Ratings upgrades - a firm vote of confidence in the outlook for the economy of Hungary from each of the world’s Big Three credit assessors.

The XXI General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) in Doha is one of the official gatherings of the Olympic Family where bidding cities will be permitted to address voting members of the IOC directly.

A consumer ready package that outlines the strengths of Budapest as a hosting nation, complete with interviews, graphics and music.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST AN INTERVIEW PLEASE CONTACT:

Iván Rózsa (Ivan.Rozsa@budapest2024.org)