Rome 2024 unveil bid website as Games capitalising on iconic landmarks are promised

Rome have unveiled a new bid website showcasing iconic elements of the host city ©Rome 2024

An official Rome 2024 website has gone live today as organisers seek to boost the publicity surrounding their bid, one of five such attempts to land the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The website, which at this stage is a "teaser site", is accessible here, with much more content due to be rolled out over coming weeks.

A bid video has also been unveiled on the home page of the site, predominantly showcasing youngsters participating in numerous Olympic and Paralympic sports in iconic landmarks around the city.

The website, currently available in Italian and English, also contains information about the host city and on the "Rome 2024 vision", as well as links to the bid's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts.

It is the second city to set up a bid website after Los Angeles, the US contender which entered the contest following the abandonment of Boston's bid in July.

Other bidders are Budapest, Hamburg and Paris.

This comes following a busy few days for Rome's fledgling team, with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi having met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach during the weekend's United Nations Summit in New York.

Renzi repledged his commitment to bid for the first Games in the Italian capital since 1960, an important pledge due to the scrapping of Rome's bid for the 2020 edition in 2012 due a withdrawal of support from former Prime Minister Mario Monti.

Itialian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, pictured speaking during the UN Summit, discussed the Olympic bid when meeting Thomas Bach in New York ©AFP/Getty Images — Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, pictured speaking during the UN Summit, discussed the Olympic bid when meeting Thomas Bach in New York ©AFP/Getty Images

He also pledged to travel to Lausanne for further meetings with Bach and other leading IOC officials soon.

Bid leader Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has also been involved in discussions with the Mayors of two towns to the south of Rome which have previously hosted Olympic events – Rocca di Papa and Castel Gandolfo – over the possibility of them doing so once again.

In 1960, equestrian competitions were held at the Equestrian Centre Pratoni del Vivaro in Rocca di Papa, while rowing took place on the waters of Lake Albano Castel Gandolfo.

They have each requested meetings with Montezemolo to "support and revitalise" the Olympic aspirations of their respective territories.

Precise location proposals for many sports are yet to be finalised, but Montezemolo has prioritised incorporating many of Rome's iconic locations into the Games.

Speaking to the Associated Press, he mooted ideas including a marathon winding through St. Peter’s Square and finishing under the Arch of Constantine in front of the Colosseum, and beach volleyball played at the Circus Maximus.

The bid is due to be centred around the Foro Italico, which features the Stadio Olimpico used at Rome 1960, alongside an aquatics venue used during the 2009 World Championships.

A final decision as to who will host the 2024 Games is due to be made at the IOC Session in Lima in 2017.