Budapest 2024 Allocates More Funds to Consultants -- 2024 Roundup

(ATR) The Budapest 2024 bid team is emphasizing its international relations strategy as the new year brings the final stage of the 2024 Olympic race.

Bid leaders hope investment in international strategy will help with the IOC election of the host city in September. The added emphasis means a greater work load for the nine consultants advising Budapest's bid.

To compensate, Budapest 2024 has allocated an additional $5 million to its consultants in its budget, bringing the total allocation to more than $24 million. Budapest 2024 spokesperson Ivan Rozsa tells Around the Rings the allocation fits within its original budget and is bolstered by outside sponsorship.

"Some of the companies are giving us money, not in a regular sponsorship type, but giving to Budapest 2024 with tax-deductible money to sponsor the Olympic Movement and the bid itself," he says. "We are generating money and this allows us to spend more on consultants."

He says the increase is also brought on by the start of international promotion for each of the 2024 bids on Feb. 3 for which Budapest’s consultants are currently booking media contracts. The elimination of Rome, Italy from the bid race also spurred a change in Budapest’s strategy that its consultants are fine tuning.

"The picture is now very clear – there are two great mega-cities in the race with L.A. and Paris and one smaller, mid-size city in Budapest," Rozsa tells ATR.

"That results in a strategy whether the IOC wants to continue with mega cities after having Rio, London, Beijing and Tokyo… or, have the Olympics serve as a catalyst for a city that wants to go to the next level of development. A city that is secure, economically safe and stable enough but the Olympics and Paralympics would give an extra boost for tourism, brands, economics and sports."

Rozsa says the bid team is also using its experience from the Rio 2016 Games and visits from 22 International Federations over the last month to improve its master plan ahead of the submission of its third bid installment on Feb. 3.

Los Angeles Approved for Rail Extension

The U.S. federal government will supply $1.6 billion to Los Angeles for the extension of its Purple Line subway.

The rail extension of two and a half miles further into Century City in the heart of downtown Los Angeles would benefit the Los Angeles 2024 bid if it is successful in securing the host city contract from the IOC in September.

The development would allow passengers to travel more quickly to venue clusters near the University of Southern California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the planned host of the Olympic and Paralympic Village in LA 2024’s bid.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says he expects the extension to be completed in time for the 2024 Games.

Potential Troubles for Paris Sailing

The proposed venue for sailing in Paris 2024’s bid may have to be moved from Marseille.

The French news site Marsactu says the Paris bid may not be able to build upon the sea port and marina at Roucas-Blanc along the Huveaune River due to a recent report from the Department of Territories and Sea (DDTM).

The DDTM report outlines a flood prevention plan for the Huveaune and puts the proposed venue site in the ‘red zone’, preventing its construction.

The decision is not final and the Mayor of Marseille has asked for the proposed venue location to receive a ‘light blue zoning’ which would allow for the Olympic venue construction. Marsactu reports the request has received political support from the French government.

Marseille was selected as the potential sailing venue in September 2015.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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