Italy’s premier scraps Rome’s 2020 Olympic bid
Posted February 14, 2012 10:56 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ROME — Italy’s premier has scrapped Rome’s bid for the 2020 Olympics, saying the government can’t supply the required financial backing at a time of financial crisis.
Premier Mario Monti announced after a Cabinet meeting Tuesday that it would be an irresponsible use of taxpayer money to fund the Olympic project.
Costs for hosting the Olympics in Rome are estimated at US$12.5 billion.
The decision came a day before the deadline for formal submission of bid files to the International Olympic Committee. The IOC requires government financial guarantees.
Rome was the first of six cities to submit a bid for the 2020 Games. The others are Baku, Azerbaijan; Doha, Qatar; Istanbul; Madrid; and Tokyo.
The IOC will select the host city in 2013.
