Italy's bid for the 2024 summer
Olympics "is very dear to us" and "we support it with great
force," Italian President Sergio Mattarella told International
Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach in Rome Friday.
Bach invited Mattarella to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de
Janeiro and Mattarella said: "I'll do what I can to organise a
trip there".
After their encounter Bach went to the HQ of Italy's 2024
bid committee.
Italy is a "strong candidate", Bach told Mattarella.
"Italy's candidature is strong because of its history, both
that of the country and its sporting history," Bach said on
arrival at a meeting of the Committee promoting Rome's
candidature for the 2024 sporting extravaganza, which was
attended by the head of state.
"I wish you good luck for your candidature, I congratulate
you for your commitment, continue like that," Bach said.
Speaking after the projection of a video about the Olympic
games held at Rome in 1960, Bach said "I have many memories of
the 1960 Olympic Games because it was my first Olympic
experience".
"I remember (American gold medallist) Wilma Rudolph well
and her special Olympic path ... your candidature is very strong
both because of your history and because of your rich Olympic
history and also because you have so many representatives in the
organisation of international sport".
Mattarella, too, said Rome Olympics "remain a
splendid memory for me".
Mattarella told Bach that he became "close to to the
Olympic movement" during the 1960 games.
Historic sites in Rome, including the Circus Maximus,
should be incorporated into planning for Rome's 2024 Olympics
bid, a city councillor said.
Alessandra Cattoi said city hall is considering holding
some awards ceremonies at the Colosseum, "which is symbolic" and
other historic sites could be used for similar ceremonies.
"The Circus Maximus could be a very good location for some
disciplines," added Cattoi.
Technical experts would have to confirm the safety and
structural integrity of sites, some of which are 2,000 years
old, before they could be used, she added.
The Circus Maximus, which has origins in about the 6th
century BC, was originally an ancient chariot racing stadium
while the Colosseum, completed in 80 AD, was built to hold great
spectacles including gladiatorial combat and sporting events.
Mayor Ignazio Marino said he would "love" to host a
medal-winning ceremony at the Colosseum, prompting officials in
charge of the upkeep of the ancient arena to warn him that
special permission would be needed.
With Rome in the running to host the Olympics, in February
Luca Cordero de Montezemolo, non-executive chairman of Alitalia,
was named chairman of the bid committee.
Rome's previous bid to host the 2020 Olympics was dropped
in February 2012 by then-premier Mario Monti who suggested that
Italy, with all of its debts and serious economic problems,
could not afford such an expensive venture.
Rome hosted the 1960 Olympics and carried off a
largely successful edition of the World Swimming Championships
in 2009.
Promoters have said that many of the required sports
facilities are operational and would only need upgrading,
promoters say.
These include the Stadio Olimpico which has a running track
for athletics, and the pool used for the swimming races at the
2009 world championships.
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