Márta V Naszályi said that the Red Bull company sought out “cheap venues all over the world” to promote its energy drink. In Budapest “they are charged 10 percent of the [usual] fee and have access to a world heritage site” for the race each year, she said.

Budapest should come up with a “viable public-area management strategy” instead of permitting public events on an ad-hoc basis, she said, adding that a sensible strategy would ensure that supplementary services are defined and revenues used to “compensate locals” and improve the environment.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Szigetváry Zsolt