Hungary’s attempt to claim support from fellow European nations for Budapest’s 2024 Olympic bid has been brushed aside by the European Olympic Committee (EOC).

In a statement made this week, the Hungarian Olympic Committee said the city had received support from 16 countries in central and southern Europe.

According to an Associated Press report, a resolution proposed by the head of Croatia’s Olympic Committee was approved by Olympic committees from Albania, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey.

However, the EOC released a strongly worded statement shortly after, stressing that the body “does not endorse the statement” made, and that the central and southern Europe national Olympic committees (NOC) was not “an officially recognised organisation” within the EOC.

“All International Olympic Committee (IOC) Members vote as individuals in a secret ballot and the IOC does not permit IOC Members to discuss publicly how they will vote in advance of any election,” the statement added.

“It is clear that IOC Members who could be associated with this statement were not consulted in advance of the announcement being made, therefore it is not appropriate to imply that IOC Members from the region will follow the guidance from the statement.”

Budapest is among four European cities, alongside Rome, Paris and Hamburg to bid for the 2024 Games. Los Angeles is the candidate for the US. The decision is due to be made by the IOC in 2017 in Lima, Peru.

Five cities to bid for 2024 Olympics: Paris, Los Angeles, Hamburg, Rome and Budapest