Budapest Withdraws Olympics Bid in Pre-Election Blow to Orban
- Los Angeles and Paris remain in contention to host 2024 Games
- Decision preempts referendum on rescinding Budapest candidacy
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Budapest abandoned its efforts to host the 2024 Olympics, leaving just Los Angeles and Paris in the running in a blow to Prime Minister Viktor Orban before next year’s elections.
The withdrawal preempts a referendum forced by activists who united the fractured opposition to gather signatures against the bid, which the sports-eager premier had publicly supported. With Budapest a long-shot to host the Games, the group, called Momentum, made no secret that it was targeting a symbolic issue in an effort to scupper Orban’s chances of winning a third consecutive term in 2018.