In a Rome meeting with Giovanni Malagò, Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) President, prior to the latter’s departure for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session here in Malaysia, Renzi also confirmed the Italian Government’s “full and total support” for Rome’s 2024 Olympic and Paralympic bid.

Renzi also invited IOC President Thomas Bach to Italy.

In addition to the bid, which is currently up against Budapest, Hamburg and Paris, the two men discussed Italy’s candidacies for both the 2022 Ryder Cup and the 2023 Rugby World Cup, among the most prestigious events in the new Olympic sports of golf and rugby.

The two men plan to meet again at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza on September 6, just over a week ahead of the September 15 deadline for 2024 applicant cities to put themselves forward.

When a Rome 2024 delegation visited Lausanne last month, it was joined by Claudio De Vincenti, Renzi’s Undersecretary.

Unambiguous, demonstrable Government support is likely to be vital for the Italian capital, particularly in the early stages of the coming race, in order to reassure the IOC there is no danger of a repeat of the 2020 contest from which Rome withdrew dramatically on Valentine’s Day 2012. 

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