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Budapest assembly – Budapest approves final 2024 Olympic locations, opposition slams mayor
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Budapest, January 25 (MTI) – The Budapest assembly on Wednesday approved the final proposal on locations selected under the Hungarian capital’s bid to host the 2024 Olympics. Budapest’s mayor, István Tarlós, has failed to discuss proposals concerning renovating the third metro line or handling the capital’s current smog problem, a Socialist representative said.
Budapest assembly approves final 2024 Olympic locations
The proposal sponsored by Mayor István Tarlós and deputy Mayor Balázs Szeneczey includes converting temporarily the Kincsem Equestrian Park into a pentathlon complex and organising the mountain bike events at Testverhegy hills instead of the originally planned site of Hármashatárhegy.
The proposal was passed with 21 votes in favour, four against and four abstentions.
The assembly rejected a motion submitted by LMP representative Antal Csárdi on initiating the withdrawal of Budapest’s Olympic bid.
Photo: MTISOCIALISTS
Csaba Horváth told a news conference before a meeting of the assembly that smog caused the deaths of several thousand people each year and Tarlos had not considered a proposal among others to make public transport free of charge during periods of heavy smog.
He also noted that “two weeks after one day of snowfall”, many roads and pavements were still in a dangerous state because they had not been cleared of ice. Whereas in 2010, 130 vehicles were deployed to clear snow, only 75 have been put into action this year, he added.
On the topic of Budapest’s bid to host the 2024 Olympics, Horváth said “a small, power elite” are deciding arrangements for the Games, flying in the face of democratic principles, and the possible impacts and risks associated with hosting the event have not been presented to the public.
“We are not against the Olympics; we are against corruption and in favour of a referendum,” he said.
On the subject of the recent findings of Europe’s anti-fraud office OLAF into the circumstances surrounding construction of Budapest’s fourth metro line, Horvath said until the report is published, no one can know whether allegations made by the government are founded or not. He said the Socialists demand immediate publication of the OLAF report.