POSTED: January 25th 2012
NewsUpdate
Rome 2020: CONI head Petrucci makes plea to PM Monti
LAURA WALDEN / Sports Features Communications
LAUSANNE: Head of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) Gianni Petrucci send a plea to the government to stand by the Rome 2020 bid for the summer Games despite the financial crisis.
Petrucci reached out to Premier Mario Monti to commit to the 2020 bid and not try to postpone the candidature to 2024. Italy is in a good position politically to bid with International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president Mario Pescante on the executive board with a four year term. He is likely to be re-elected in 2013.
The Milan daily Corriere della Sera published an interview with him on Tuesday, "President, commit to this, believe in us. You won't regret it.
"2020 is a unique and one-time opportunity. For that reason I can't believe that Monti would say no. I'm convinced history gives us this possibility today. Tomorrow, no one knows."
"Rome has to be a candidate.
"The whole road has been followed with the government. And it's true that just yesterday the president said that phase two is starting. The Olympics are phase two. That's why I'm optimistic. The Olympics have to be part of this phase which will say to the Italians, 'we're lifting our heads back up.'"
"Studies have shown that the Olympics acts as a boost. If Monti says no...it would be an assist for those who don't love our country."
The last time that Rome bid for the Olympics was for 2004 which Athens won, so far the budget of $42.7 million was approved last November by the bid committee.
The overall budget for the Rome Games is $12.5 billion but projections see only $5.8 billion as public spending costs with the rest coming in from proceeds of ticket sales, media rights, sponsors and licensees.
The Eternal City last hosted the 1960 Games and many of the venues are there as a legacy for the potential 2020 Games.
Rome is running against three other European cities Baku, Madrid, and Istanbul and two Asian ones Doha, and Tokyo.
Madrid, Doha and Tokyo all three ran in the 2016 race and this makes Istanbul’s fifth attempt at a bid so these cities come to the table with a lot of homework already done.
The final decision will be taken in Buenos Aires, Argentina on September 7, 2013 at the IOC session.
Keywords · CONI · 2020 Games · Gianni Petrucci · Mario Pescante
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