Rome 2024 Olympic bid collapses in acrimony

Image copyright Rai

Image caption Virginia Raggi told reporters that she was not prepared to allow the city to sink further into debt

Rome looks set to drop its bid to host the Olympic Games in 2024, after its anti-establishment mayor said it would be "irresponsible" to be a candidate.

Virginia Raggi of the Five Star movement was elected as mayor of the Italian capital in June.

There was confusion earlier when reports said she had failed to turn up for a meeting with a delegation from the Italian Olympic Committee.

Rome also pulled out of bidding for the 2020 Olympics for financial reasons.

Boston and Hamburg have already pulled out of the running for the 2024 Games, leaving Paris, Los Angeles and Budapest as remaining bidders.

Candidate cities must confirm their application and the endorsement of local public leaders by 7 October.

Ms Raggi came to power after repeatedly saying she opposed the 2024 bid, but there were hopes that she might agree to a local referendum.

The head of the Italian Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malago, has already indicated that without her support the bid will not go ahead.

The International Olympic Committee will elect the host at a vote in Lima, Peru in September 2017, with Paris considered the favourite after several previous unsuccessful bids including the 2012 Games.

"We are effectively asking the people of Rome and of Italy to shoulder the debts. We just don"t support it," the mayor told reporters.

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Rome 2024 Olympic bid collapses in acrimony
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