www.BudapestEvent.com

Thousands of cyclists rode around Hungary's capital on Saturday in celebration of Earth Day and to promote bicycling as an alternative means of urban transportation.

Organizers estimated the crowd at more than 30,000 riders, including President Laszlo Solyom, an avowed environmentalist, and his grandchildren. A police estimate was not immediately available, but some 20,000 took part in last year's event, according to the official calculation.

The events in Budapest and a handful of other Hungarian cities were part of a worldwide cycling movement organized by Critical Mass.

Solyom said riding a bike was a viable alternative to "polluting the air and making ourselves nervous in a traffic jam."

"In every normal city in Western Europe there are bicycle lanes where everyone can go," Solyom told state news wire MTI. "This is what is needed in Budapest."

The 12-kilometer (7.5-mile) route on the streets of Budapest began on the banks of the Danube River, passed through a tunnel under Buda Castle and concluded at City Park.

"I came in the hope that my kids will be able to ride their bikes in the city streets without having to fear they'll get run over by a car," said Boldizsar Koenig, 33, riding with one of his three children.

SmarterTravel.com, a comprehensive online travel resource, released a report that offers insight into the next generation of "must-visit" cities across the pond. For the past several years, Europe, particularly London, Paris and Rome, has become less and less affordable for travelers, while the "undiscovered" cities, like Prague and Budapest, are becoming cluttered with tourists. This report, by SmarterTravel reporter RaeJean Stokes, reveals the new European hot spots and cheap destinations across the continent.

"Over the past ten years, traveling to Europe became more and more popular and, at the same time, more and more expensive," said RaeJean Stokes, reporter, SmarterTravel.com. "This list offers a variety of different cities across the continent that are new and exciting to American travelers and are still an affordable vacation."

"Even with all the usual, popular spots, Europe still offers hidden gems that are reasonably priced, without lots of tourists," said Anne Banas, executive editor, SmarterTravel.com. "These cities offer history and culture, as well as a vacation that fits into a traveler's budget."

SmarterTravel's full report is available at http://www.smartertravel.com/advice/advfeatures/advice.php?id=332877

About SmarterTravel.com:
SmarterTravel.com is the most comprehensive travel resource site available offering consumers up-to-date expert advice and information for their every travel need. Created by an unbiased team of dedicated journalists, the site's goal is to help travelers better manage every aspect of their travel experience by making researched, informed decisions. Unlike other online travel resources, SmarterTravel.com brings together all the best content in one place, giving consumers the tools they need to ensure a great travel experience.
Website: http://www.smartertravel.com/

IPTV seen as major potential application for region enjoying quadruple DSL growth...

Eastern Europe, a region where DSL revenues alone are expected to reach $4 billion per annum by 2010, is to stage its first ever IPTV World Forum (www.iptv-easterneurope.com) in Budapest in June (22-23).

Representatives of leading Telcos, ISPs, Broadcasters, content providers, device manufacturers, technology providers, software providers, and system integrators will gather together to discuss the critical issues now facing the region’s telecoms industry as demand for IPTV services starts to follow the region’s dramatic investment in DSL and access market technology.

The event, at the Budapest Marriott Hotel is organised by Junction Limited, a leading specialist in digital technology shows and has already attracted a number of high level speakers including Andras Tüdos, Chief IT and Technology Officer, T-Online Hungary, Benjamin Schwarz, International IPTV Projects Manager – Content Division, France Telecom, Iosif Szavuj, Executive Director, Ines Group, Romania, Michel Taborsky, IPTV Program Director, Cesky Telecom, Laura Vaitkuviene, Projects Manager, AB Lietuvos Telekomas.

Some of Eastern Europe’s industry leaders will address key issues, from current key market trends and IPTV service benchmarking, to the challenges that lie in wait for nationalised and privatised Telcos and content culture.

“This show comes at a significant time for the region, when DSL growth rates are high and TV penetration low, marking the huge potential leading to the impending successful roll out of IPTV networks offering Eastern European consumers their first vision of life beyond analogue television,” said Ian Johnson, Managing Director of Junction.

Pyramid Research suggests DSL revenues in Eastern and Central Europe will quadruple between 2005 and 2010 from $0.8 billion to almost $4 billion. This technology growth, compared with the public’s enthusiasm to consume reflects the potential in the market for digital TV and video services over DSL or fibre.

The exhibition and conference sponsored by Harmonic, NDS, and Tandberg Television is to include:

•IPTV showcase area featuring state-of-the-art demonstrations.
•Conference of over fifteen Eastern European Telcos and ISPs discussing IPTV service deployment issues.
•Exhibition involving thirty key IPTV providers.
•Senior speakers from leading content broadcast companies.
•Networking drinks aboard the Princess Zsofia with cruise on the Danube.

UEFA and its 52 member national football associations gather on Thursday for the XXX Ordinary UEFA Congress at the Budapest Congress & World Trade Centre in Hungary.

Football parliament
The European body's Congress - effectively European football's parliament - is held annually, with the associations invited to vote on proposed measures and statutory amendments, elect UEFA officials and hear a round-up of UEFA's most important activities and decisions over the previous 12 months.

Terms extended
The Congress is likely to discuss issues which have surfaced in recent days concerning European football, in particular developments relating to major European clubs and the case involving Belgian club R. Charleroi SC and FIFA. The case, which opened on Monday, was brought by Charleroi against the world governing body because one of their players returned injured from an international friendly last year.

Terms of office
Delegates will also be invited by UEFA's Executive Committee to adopt a proposal whereby the terms of office of members of UEFA's disciplinary bodies, committees and expert panels elected or appointed in 2006 would exceptionally be extended by one year.

HatTrick scheme
The Congress will hear a status report on the implementation of UEFA's ambitious HatTrick scheme, which provides assistance to the national associations. Established in 2003, and covering a four-year period between 1 August 2004 and 31 July 2008, UEFA has committed substantial funding to its 52 national associations under the HatTrick scheme. The money is available for each association to invest in football infrastructures such as stadium refurbishment, construction or the renovation of office or training centres, or for development and education programmes.

Refereeing convention
Delegates in Budapest will be given a presentation on the UEFA Convention on Refereeing Education and Organisation. The convention lays down the minimum standards and best practices of UEFA and the member associations with regard to the education and organisation of match officials, and its objective is to maintain and improve refereeing from grassroots level upwards.

Disputes distinction removed
Proposed amendments to UEFA's statutes include a proposal whereby, in disputes between UEFA and member associations, its players and clubs, and in cases brought before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, the distinction between disputes of a sporting and financial nature is removed.

Harmonise rules
Under the proposal, the distinction would be removed because disputes of a sporting nature, particularly in the professional arena, almost always have financial implications. CAS has also faced interpretation difficulties because of the distinction, and there is also a desire to harmonise UEFA and FIFA rules on the types of dispute that can be heard by CAS.

Annual reports
The annual reports of UEFA CEO Lars-Christer Olsson and the UEFA Executive Committee for 2005 are also up for approval at the Budapest Congress, as are the annual UEFA statement of accounts for 2004/05 and the budget for the 2006/07 financial year.