HUNGARY OFFERS VERY COMPACT BID FOR 2017 SUMMER EYOF

20 June 2012

Gyor, 19th June - The most important city in northwest Hungary, halfway between Budapest and Vienna, is the sole candidate for the organisation of the 14th European Youth Olympic Festival.
And so that it may better report to the 2012 EOC General Assembly, which needs to ratify the bid, last 14th - 16th June the EYOF Evaluation Commission paid a site visit to this beautiful Hungarian City, located in the north-west of Hungary only 30 km from the Slovakian boarder and 100 km from Vienna, where they were warmly welcomed by very nice and sunny weather and the lively atmosphere which is typical of this the 6th biggest City in Hungary, with 130.000 inhabitants.
When they arrived, Chair Jozef Liba (SVK), member Guro Lium (NOR) and EOC EYOF Manager Katerina Nycova were received by the NOC President Zsolt Borkai, who is also Mayor of Gyor, and who gave them all the information they needed to get a truly clear picture as concerns the bid, with his young and dedicated team presenting a very well prepared bid in a highly professional way, outlining the project and the basic ideas for the organisation of the Festival. The venue tour showed that the project's announced compactness is really excellent and how, after the planned construction and reconstruction of the venues and Olympic village is completed, the City of Gyor will be able to offer wonderful conditions for a variety of sports and other events. The Festival's sustainability and its legacy programme are the main objectives the City and the Bid Committee have set themselves.
Before leaving, the members of the Evaluation Commission also met State Secretary for Sport and former Olympic swimming champion Attila Czene, who assured them that the planned investment has been guaranteed by the Hungarian Government and pointed out how the Hungarians are very sporty, this meaning that full arenas and many fans at all events can be expected. In addition, in 2010 Gyor was awarded the title of Hungary's Sportiest City, in recognition of the sports policy of the city and its Mayor, who is the City's true motor force. In any case, Gyor's 2017 bid looks very promising, and if this beautiful City is elected the participants can look forward to high profile sport facilities within a perimeter of less than 10 km, many spectators, a great atmosphere and wonderful hospitality.