First Images of Budapest Olympic Park Showcased

(ATR) Budapest 2024 shared the first designs for a potential Olympic Park on the banks of the Danube River.

The park will feature nine competition venues in addition to the Olympic Village. It is located on the eastern side of the Danube and is the largest of seven competition clusters proposed by Budapest 2024.

According to a statement from the bid, the park was designed to "fit the bill perfectly" to be in line with the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020. The statement goes on to say city officials hope the Olympic project will revitalize the surrounding area, similar to the boost given East London by the Olympic Park for the 2012 Games.

"We are very lucky that we have been able to make maximum use of the naturally accessible geography of the city to eliminate traffic delays for athletes, spectators and the wider Games Family," Attila Mizsér, Director of Sport and Venues at Budapest 2024, said in a statement. "We feel this is a right-sized Olympic Park, appropriate for a new era of the Olympic Movement."

The Olympic park will feature the 2024 Olympic Stadium, Budapest Olympic arena, the BMX center, and the canoe slalom, canoe/rowing, modern pentathlon, tennis, triathlon, and weightlifting facilities.

The four renderings of the park can be found on Budapest 2024's Facebook page, here.

U.S. Olympic Committee Focused Solely on 2024

The USOC is not focusing on the idea that the Los Angeles Olympic bid could be awarded the 2028 Olympics.

Earlier this month at the final IOC Executive Board meeting of 2016 President Thomas Bach hinted at the possibility of changes to the Olympic bidding process. Bach said the current process produces "too many losers." The statement led to speculation from some that the IOC could possibly award both the 2024 and 2028 Olympics at the same session.

USOC chairman Larry Probst told journalists yesterday that the committee remains "laser focused" on ensuring Los Angeles hosts the 2024 Olympic Games.

"No thoughts or consideration are being given to any future games, 2026, 2028, or beyond," Probst said. "Our goal is to win the bid and have the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2024."

Paris Athletes Aim to Inspire Next Generation

Around 150 French athletes will speak on their experiences to young French athletes at the upcoming Etoiles du Sport.

Of the athletes present nearly 70 are Olympians. The presentations athletes will make are aimed at "Generation 2024," youth athletes promoted by the Olympic bid. Part of the presentations will include how the "athlete community can contribute to final stages of the bid," according to a statement from Paris 2024.

"Our promise is to place sport and Olympism at the heart of society across Paris and France helping the Olympic Movement to create a new generation of fans globally," Tony Estanguet, Paris 2024 co-chairman, said in a statement. "We are looking forward to a productive week discussing how Paris 2024 can be a Games of passion and purpose, celebrating sport in the heart of a truly global city."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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