Rome 2024 Downplays Olympic Village Issues

(ATR) The Italian bid is seeking to alleviate concerns around its Olympic Village concept.

Italian media suggest uncertainties about the proposed site of the athletes village in the Tor Vergata district of Rome. Reports quoted Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malagò saying the bid will listen to any concerns and fresh ideas to relocate.

Mayor Virginia Raggi is said to be against plans to use the site.

The bid tells Around the Rings the choice of the Tor Vergata site in the Rome 2024 dossier followed consultation with major environmental organizations and discussions are ongoing.

Rome 2024 general director Diana Bianchedi downplayed any major issues linked to the Olympic Village plan, "a central element of the Rome 2024 Olympic dossier".

Bianchedi admitted the choice of Tor Vergata was not set in stone, before indirectly referencing the apparent concerns of Raggi, who opposed the Olympic bid throughout her mayoral campaign.

"From day one, we have committed to developing the Rome 2024 project with maximum cooperation and transparency; thus, we are open to constructively discussing our plans in detail with the new administration," Bianchedi told ATR.

"We will not rule out the possibility for revision of some aspects, provided that the modifications do not compromise the general functionality of the project, which is in full compliance with the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020," she added.

"We will continue to provide the utmost transparency, adhering to the work that has been carried out in the last few days with the technical commission of the City of Rome."

Bianchedi explained that Tor Vergata was selected as the best site because it is "an urban area in need of development and renewal, efficient access and better integration with the rest of Rome".

The site currently accommodates one of the largest hospitals in Rome and a university attended by nearly 42,000 students.

"Choosing to build the Olympic village here would guarantee at least 6,000 residential units following the 2024 Games, which would become part of the university campus, as well as housing dedicated to the families of patients of the hospital," she said.

"This would offer an incredible legacy for the city, and is an opportunity that has already been backed by five major environmental organizations."

Budapest, Los Angeles and Paris are the other bid cities in contention for the 2024 Olympics.

The IOC decision comes at its session in Lima, Peru in September 2017.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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