Budapest Set to Withdraw from 2024 Race

Paris and Los Angeles are set for a head to head battle to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games after a Hungarian government spokesperson announced Budapest intends to withdraw its nomination.

With Hamburg, Boston and Rome having already withdrawn candidacy, Budapest is expected to follow suit, clearing the way for the French capital and America’s second most populous city to stand as the remaining two bids when the International Olympic Committee votes on hosting rights in September at a meeting in Lima, Peru.

Reuters reported that Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs said the city would withdraw its bid, potentially as early as next week.

A recent petition calling on the Hungarian capitol to withdraw its bid gained more than 250,000 signatures with critics arguing that government funds would be better spend on hospitals, schools and infrastructure.

Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2024-budapest-withdrawal-idUSKBN1612GH

BBC: http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/39059452

Meanwhile, Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) President John Coates is seeking for Australia to gain full inclusion to the Asian Summer Games by 2022.

With links to the Asian Games already established in winter sport, Coates is pushing for an expansion into summer sports and despite the move coming too late for representation at the 2018 Games in Jakarta, he is optimistic the plan can happen ahead of the 2022 edition in China.

“I’ve always been keen for us to get more competition in Asia,” Coates said.

“Discussions are underway and I believe there would be great interest in the Asian Games amongst our member sports. Particularly in sports where the Asian countries are strong like gymnastics, badminton and table tennis.”

Australia’s possible involvement will be discussed at the next meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in September.

AOC: http://corporate.olympics.com.au/news/asia-our-future-says-aoc-president