The chief organiser of Budapest's bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games has acknowledged the city are now a significant underdog following considerable local opposition to its candidacy.

Over 260,000 people have signed a petition set up by the political movement Momentum in an attempt to trigger a referendum on the bid.

BBC Sport quote Balazs Furjes, the head of Budapest's organising team, as telling Inforadio: "The ship has sailed, it seems."

Budapest is one of only three cities still in the running to host the 2024 Games - together with Paris and Los Angeles - after Hamburg and Rome withdrew their respective bids.

The IOC will elect the winner at a vote in Peru's capital, Lima, in September.

"Unity has gone up in the air, and lacking that, we stand no chance against Paris or Los Angeles," said Furjes.