Malagò says Raggi must clarify stance (2)

(ANSA) - Turin, June 21 - Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) President Giovanni Malagò on Tuesday called on new Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi to clarify her position on the capital's bid for the 2024 Olympics. "The (arrival of a) new partner at the city of Rome doesn't change our plans," Malagò said. "Ask her what she intends to do. I only call on her to be honest and cooperate.
    "Our only interest is to support the bid. The new mayor came to CONI (headquarters) before the elections. It didn't seem that there was a clear no and we don't think there should be one. It's a procedure that started three years ago". Raggi, a member of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S), said in her campaign that it would be "criminal" to bid for the Games with Rome's many woes and a huge city budget deficit. She later said she was not against the Olympics as such but against spending on major public works at a time of spending restrictions. Malagò observed that the three sources of backing for the bid had already been "achieved and deliberated" and urged Raggi not to show "prejudice" against it. "For the bid, we need the OK of the city, CONI and the government. If one of these goes the bid will fail. It's true there are other priorities but you shouldn't have prejudices against the bid," he said.