UPDATED - Rome Out of 2024 Olympic Race

(ATR)Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malago formally announced the end of the bid on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference in the Italian capital, he said it was "impossible" to move forward without the support of Rome’s municipal government.

Malago said he had sent a letter to the IOC on Tuesday "suspending" the bid.

‘We have taken note of the decision by Rome 2024 and will further explore with the candidature committee what this means," an IOC spokesperson told Around the Rings.

"All the circumstances and the information that we have received in the past days clearly demonstrate that this is about Italian politics only."

Two weeks ago, mayor Virginia Raggi rejected the chance to support Rome 2024's Olympic mission, a move later backed at a meeting of the city council.The Rome City Council rejected the bid in a 30-12 vote last week.

The Italian Olympic Committee's decision not to withdraw the bid completely leaves open the slim possibility that it might be revived if Raggi's administration collapses.

An Italian NOC spokesman explained the situation to ATR. "Maybe we are finished. But for example if the mayor is obliged to step down in the next month, for other reasons, other problems independent of the bid, we are still on course.

"It doesn’t mean we are finished – it could be revitalized at any moment.She has problems – it’s unbelievable. She is not in a strong position," he said of Raggi.

Malago also had strong words for the mayor today. Referring to a letter she sent to the IOC, he said : "The IOC recognizes as institutional partners only Olympic committees. Anyone can write to the IOC, but the only point that matters is the president of the Olympic committee."

Despite the mayor's lack of support, Malago insisted that "in all the polls the majority of Romans are in favor of the bid.After 'No' to Roma 2024, it is imperative to give a better image of Italian sport".

Malago addressed media and guests for 50 minutes at CONI headquarters Tuesday, waving to the audience and receiving a standing ovation along with other Rome 2024 bid officials following his speech.He was accompanied by Rome 2024 general coordinator Diana Bianchedi and Italian Paralympic Committee president Luca Pancalli. Rome 2024 chairman Luca Di Montezemolo was not present at the news conference.

Last week, the CONI chieftalked about the bid's plight with IOC president Thomas Bach during a dinner ahead of the inaugural conference on faith and sport in the Vatican City.

Rome was attempting to host the Games for a second time, 64 years since the Italian capital staged the 1960 Olympics.

CONI announced Tuesday that it is nominating Milan as a host city for the IOC Session in 2019.

Rome's exit leaves only Budapest, Los Angeles and Paris to battle for 2024 Olympic hosting rights. The IOC vote comes in September 2017.

Reported by Brian Pinelli and Mark Bisson

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