ANSA reports that the head of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said Wednesday Rome may yet be in the running to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Giovanni Malago said that anything is possible, including another shot at Rome hosting the Olympics, citing that no one predicted the recent silver medal win by swimmer Federica Pellegrini at the World Swimming Championships. “I did not expect the silver from Frederica…but when she said ‘I’m going”, I realized that anything might happen”, he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
He said that with the right support, Italy could also surprise many by hosting the Olympics.
In February 2012, then premier Mario Monti suggested that Italy, with all of its debts and serious economic problems, could not afford such an expensive venture and Italy dropped its bid to host the 2020 Olympics.
But Malago suggested things have changed, and that Finance Minister Fabrizio Saccomanni has said hosting such an event could be possible.
Malago added there would have to be “attention on the expenditure side”, hinting that he has support from Regional Affairs Minister Graziano Delrio who also has cabinet responsibilities for sport.
