Authorities Reject Referendum on Budapest Olympic Bid

(ATR) The Hungarian bid tells Around the Rings there is now "little chance" a referendum could scupper Budapest’s Olympic mission after the latest attempt failed.

Investigative journalist Katalin Erdelyi is to appeal to Hungary’s top court after the National Election Committee voted 9-2 on Wednesday to reject demands for a referendum on the bid. She is leading the anti-Olympic lobby in the Hungarian capital, but the decision comes as a major blow to critics trying to stop the bid.

"We are not worried," bid spokesman Iván Rózsa told ATR. "There is little chance. She has to appeal and then collect 200,000 signatures, which is extremely difficult."

Even if opponents of a Budapest Olympics mobilized to try to force a referendum, Hungary president János Áder, who is championing the bid, would then have to agree to one and then set a date. "It may take many, many months because of the legal process," Rózsa said.

"Even if it happens, our protection is in the public… more and more people are supporting the bid," he said.

A nationwide public opinion poll published in recent weeks suggests two-thirds of all Hungarians would be "proud" to host a Budapest Olympics. This figure rises to 70 percent in the 18-33 age range, according to the survey conducted after the Rio Olympics by market research company IPSOS.

Los Angeles and Paris are also contenders for the 2024 Olympics. Rome’s Olympic quest is all but over after the city’s mayor and council decided not to support the campaign.

The 2024 candidate cities will hand over their second bid books to the IOC on Friday.

ATR is told that Budapest 2024 will announce a series of sponsorships in the coming two weeks.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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