Budapest to become European Capital of Sport in 2019

Budapest (MTI) – Budapest will become the European Capital of Sport in 2019, the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB) reported on its website on Friday.

The title has been granted to the city by the European Capitals of Sport Association (ACES), it said.

Budapest’s rivals for the honour were Malaga, Yerevan and Valletta.

“This title will help attract media attention to Budapest’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic Summer Games,” MOB cited Budapest Deputy Mayor Alexandra Szalay-Bobrovniczky as saying.

Over the past few years Budapest demonstrated its hospitality and skills in organising major sporting events several times, MOB sports director Laszlo Fabian said, referring to the wrestling and fencing world championships, as well as the water polo and judo European championships.

Fabian said the International Olympic Committee’s Agenda 2020 reform package provided a good chance for medium-sized cities, including Budapest, to win the right to host the Olympics.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters