Mayor of Budapest Meets with IOC President

Mayor Gergely Karácsony recently met with Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to discuss the possibility of Budapest hosting a future Summer Olympic Games. The meeting took place during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

During their discussion, Mayor Karácsony and President Bach agreed that Budapest already possesses nearly all the necessary sports facilities required to host a Summer Olympics. However, the mayor acknowledged that even Paris, with its significantly more developed infrastructure, faced extraordinary challenges in organizing such a massive sporting event.

Hungary previously withdrew its application to host the 2024 Summer Olympics, recognizing that the country was not yet fully prepared to take on the responsibility of hosting the Games. Mayor Karácsony emphasized that if Budapest were to seriously consider an Olympic bid in the future, it would need to address the decades-long backlog in the condition of existing roads, bridges, and public spaces, in addition to massively developing public transportation.

The mayor suggested that a sustainable Olympic concept, focusing on the city’s green development rather than the construction of new sports facilities, could form the basis for a broad social consensus. Without such a consensus, he believes it would be futile to entertain any Olympic dreams.

Despite not being ready to host the Olympics, Hungary’s athletes continue to excel on the international stage. On the first day of the Paris Olympics, Eszter Muhari secured a bronze medal in the women’s individual épée fencing competition, earning Hungary its first medal of the Games. Muhari’s achievement highlights the strength and determination of Hungarian athletes, who consistently perform at the highest level.

As Budapest continues to develop its infrastructure and sporting capabilities, the possibility of hosting a future Olympic Games remains an aspiration for the city and the nation. With the support of its talented athletes and the guidance of visionary leaders like Mayor Karácsony, Hungary may one day realize its Olympic dreams.

Photo source: Gergely Karacsony’s Facebook Page