Budapest’s city council has rejected a proposal by members of the opposition parties to hold a referendum on the Hungarian capital’s bid for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Budapest Mayor Istvan Tarlos rebuffed the notion as “political demagoguery” and said Wednesday it was unclear whether Budapest residents had adequate information about the Olympics two years before the host city is chosen.
While Prime Minister Viktor Orban‘s government has thrown its full support behind the bid, critics have cited the likelihood of cost overruns and the stress to be put on the city’s infrastructure as reasons for concern.