Investigative journalist Katalin Erdelyi was given initial approval to ask the citizens of the Hungarian capital whether Budapest should carry on with its bid in October.

Residents were due to be asked: "Do you agree that the Budapest Municipality should withdraw its application to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024?"

It has now been scrapped, however, with Erdelyi claiming there was not enough time to gain the 140,000 signatures required to force a vote on the issue.

Budapest 2024 claim organisers of the petition "failed to follow up and did not collect the signature collection forms that were specially printed for their campaign".

"It was also noted that no signatures in support of the referendum were submitted within the designated time period of 30 days," a statement added.

Erdelyi also saw a second attempt to stage a nationwide referendum rejected last month, with the National Election Committee voting 9-2 against her plan.

An appeal against the decision not to hold a national referendum is set to be heard in January, according to the journalist.

The Budapest City Council had turned down a request for a referendum back in December, with a narrow margin of 16 votes to 14 preventing the capital's candidacy being put to the public.

Budapest 2024 vice-chairman László Vajda said it was "obvious now that this referendum has turned out to be a damp squib" while claiming today was a "good day" for the bid.

"The question of the referendum was raised, it was accepted and it ran its natural course," he said.

"Every democratic opportunity has been given to a very small minority who wished to validate their opinion, despite overwhelming support from a clear majority supporting the Olympic bid at the last independent polls.

"It’s quite obvious now that this referendum has turned out to be a damp squib."

Calls for a referendum on Budapest’s bid for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics have been lingering under the surface throughout the campaign, but the Bid Committee have pointed to strong national support for their effort in a series of polls.

"It is of course the democratic right of every citizen of Budapest to seek a referendum on a matter of public policy in the city and we entirely respect that right," Budapest 2024 chairman Balázs Fürjes said.

"We strongly encourage public debate and are delighted by the support and encouragement that we continue to receive.

"This is a bid that enjoys strong and widespread support among ordinary Hungarians nationwide. 

"Two-thirds of Hungarians would describe themselves as ‘proud’ or ‘very proud’ to see Budapest host the Games.

"There are clear indicators that this sentiment runs across the full cross-section of society, including urban and rural communities."

Los Angeles and Paris are also in the running for the 2024 Games, with Rome's effort currently suspended.

German city Hamburg had launched a bid but withdrew after a referendum defeat nearly a year ago today - on November 29, 2015.

The International Olympic Committee will elect its chosen host city at its Session in Lima on September 13.