Rome Olympic Bid Defies Rumors

(ATR) The mayor of Rome says she will meet with leaders of 2024 bid in September to decide whether to support the campaign.

Virginia Raggi spoke on the sidelines of a send-off for members of the Italian Paralympic team heading to Rio de Janeiro.

Rumors circulating this weekend said that Raggi would declare her final decision on Monday, expected to be a "no".

But she did not, indicating she wanted to meet with 2024 leaders next month before taking any action.

Rome 2024 remains optimistic that the mayor will come around the support the bid. Raggi and her colleagues of the Five Stars political party elected in May to run the city have been clear that they do not believe hosting the 2024 Olympics is a priority for Rome. Raggi did not attend the 2016 Games in Rio despite an open invitation from Italian national Olympic committee CONI.

Reports in the Italian press this weekend say there has been no change on the part of Raggi.

A meeting with bid leaders now would seem more likely after the Rio Paralympics, which run from September 7 to 17. In addition to a team of athletes, the Italian delegation to Rio will include observers from Rome 2024.

Clarification of the support of the city government is considered an essential for the deadline by the IOC for the next phase of the 2024 bids.

While city support is still to be determined, the situation was different in 2012 when Rome wanted to bid for the 2020 Olympics. While the city government backed the 2020 bid, the national government refused. This time it is the national government trying hard to convince the city to go for the Games.

Budapest, Los Angeles and Paris are the other three cities in the 2024 race. The IOC will decide on a host in September 2017.

Written by Ed Hula.

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