“We Budapesters aren’t any stupider than the people of Rome. If they were able to recognise their interests then we should also recognise ours,” Horváth said, referring to Rome’s decision to withdraw its own Olympic bid.
Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

LMP councillor Antal Csárdi said the government took the citizens of Budapest “for fools”, arguing that a proposal to amend and add to the list of venues where the capital would organise the Games did not increase the planned costs for staging the event.

“It was no accident that Rome withdrew its bid,” Csárdi said, adding that Budapest should first deal with more important issues such as securing replacement buses that will be needed during the renovation of the third metro line.

The metropolitan general assembly later approved the amended list of proposed venues for the 2024 Olympics. Under the new plan, the opening and closing ceremonies would be held in the Puskás Ferenc Stadium while the main press and media zone would be at the Hungexpo site.

The document passed by the assembly said the amendments will make it cheaper to host the event.

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