Government requests assessment of Hungary's performance at Olympics

Hungary's government will request an assessment from the National Sport Council of the Hungarian sportsmen's performance at the Beijing Olympics, the government spokesman David Daroczi said on Sunday.

"Experts must assess the situation...If they submit a proposal to the government, it will be considered," Daroczi added.

Daroczi said it was not right to turn Hungarians' performance at the Olympics into a political dispute. "First of all, we must congratulate the Olympians because they did their best to succeed," he said.

Chairman of the Hungarian Olympic Committee and an official of the main opposition Fidesz party Pal Schmitt said he was dissatisfied because Hungarians had the capacity to win far more medals.

"I am also disappointed because of the poorer than expected performance. At the same time, I will not talk negatively about anybody. The professional associations must seek the reasons instead us of pointing fingers at each other," Schmitt said.

Hungary won three gold medals, five silver medals and two bronze at the Beijing Olympics. Four years ago, Hungary won 8 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze medals.

At the Beijing Olympics, Hungary finished at 21st place out of 204 countries.

The last time that Hungary won fewer medals than at the Beijing Olympics was in Paris in 1924.

Daroczi noted that Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany had phoned the coach of the Hungarian water-polo team earlier in the day and congratulated him for the team's gold medal.

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