Nine ambassadors have been appointed to promote Budapest's 2024 Olympic bid in Hungary and abroad, it has been announced.
Austrian-Hungarian journalist and politician György Habsburg, who will be one of the ambassadors, told journalists at a press conference that hosting the Olympics would be a great opportunity not only for Hungary but for the whole of eastern Europe. “If the Olympics is well organized, it will help the entire region,” he said.
Fellow ambassador, Director of Magyar Telekom Christopher Mattheisen said Budapest and Hungary have everything required to host the Olympics. “Nobody should expect the investment to return in 2-3 years. In case of an Olympics, one should think ahead for 20-30 years,” he added.
Joining Mattheisen and Habsburg, the remaining ambassadors are Hungary’s former Ambassador to the United Kingdom János Csák, former Minister of National Development Tamás Fellegi, former Foreign Minister János Martonyi, opera singer Andrea Rost, Raiffeisen Bank International AG Director Attila Szalay-Berzeviczy, Lollapalooza Festival Director and former Sziget Festival Program Director Fruzsina Szép and Zwack Unicum Director Sándor Zwack.
Los Angeles and Paris are also in competition to host the 2024 games and the International Olympics Committee will choose the host city next September in Lima.