Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary's parliamentary speaker has appointed former Hungarian President Pal Schmitt as head of a group tasked with advising and promoting Budapest's bid for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Others among the 23 "Guardians of the Olympic Bid" include chess grandmaster Judit Polgar, Budapest Mayor Istvan Tarlos, and International Weightlifting Federation President Tamas Ajan.
Schmitt, an Olympic fencing champion and member of the International Olympic Committee, resigned as president in April 2012 after revelations that he copied most of his doctoral thesis from other authors.
Budapest is competing with Rome, Paris, and Los Angeles to host the 2024 Games, though opponents of the Hungarian capital's bid are trying to force a referendum on the nomination. The German city of Hamburg withdrew last year after voters rejected the bid in a referendum.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
