Rome’s 5-Star Movement Mayor Virginia Raggi, center, attends a ceremony for the 73rd anniversary of an Italian defense of Rome by Nazi occupation, in Rome, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016.
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Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malago has said that Rome’s bid will fail automatically without the backing of the city council.
Since her election doubts have remained as to whether her opposition would ultimately result in the bid being scrapped, with reports suggesting Raggi was set to announce the end of the bid when the country’s Paralympic athletes attended a send-off ceremony ahead of Rio 2016.
The leader of Italy’s populist 5-Star Movement has given Rome’s embattled mayor a public vote of confidence after her administration fell into disarray over a spate of resignations.
Raggi, a member of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement which runs the Rome municipality, has made clear she has other priorities but has yet to definitively back away from the bid. Raggi came out against Rome hosting the 2024 Olympics in her campaign to be elected in June.
“Dear Raggi, give thrust to our dreams and support Rome’s 2024 bid: let’s compete together to win a hope”, the letter is reported to read. We are certain you share our sentiments.
Leader of populist 5-Star Movement Beppe Grillo, center, speaks on stage at a rally in Nettuno, near Rome, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016. Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi and her cabinet “have not changed their minds on Rome organising the Olympics in eight years’ time and so they say No” to the Games, a well-informed City Hall source told ANSA Thursday.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, a Democratic Party politician, has been a vocal backer of Rome’s bid for the Games, but has indicated the city need to support the effort.
If the bid is rejected, it would mark Rome’s second withdrawal in four years after then-premier Mario Monti in 2012 stopped Rome’s bid for the 2020 Games for financial reasons.
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Rome is now among four bidders for 2024 along with Budapest, Los Angeles and Paris.
