Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta offered his full support for an Italian bid for the 2024 Olympics.
Speaking in Sochi on Saturday, Letta said once the bid dossier was complete money will be no object for the bid. "I will be ready to open my portfolio," he said offering access to the national government’s budget.
"We need to be accountable," Letta added.
Letta said he was looking for a dossier that was "clear, accountable, not dreaming."
The National Olympic Committee of Italy has not selected a bid city yet. However, Rome is considered a frontrunner, having been selected for the 2020 race, only to have the bid cancelled by then-PM Mario Monte.
Monte’s decision was praised by Letta. Letta said Tokyo was a superior candidate and would have defeated Rome.
Atos Extends Partnership
Atos will be a TOP Sponsor through 2020.
The IT giant signed an extension of its partnership on Saturday. Under the terms of the deal, Atos has exclusive rights to provide integration services and systems management services, core hosting services and key Games-related applications and associated services.
IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement: "technology is critical to the success of each edition of the Olympic Games. We are delighted that we will be able to continue relying on Atos and its vast experience to deliver flawless, innovative IT services."
Thierry Breton, Chairman and CEO of Atos, said: "We are particularly proud of our long-term partnership with the International Olympic Committee - a relationship based on enduring trust. We will continue to surpass ourselves from one Olympiad to the next, powering progress for the Olympic Movement."
In His Own Words: Sage Kotsenburg, Sochi 2014’s First Gold Medalist
Sage Kotsenburg won the first gold medal of the Sochi 2014 Olympics in the men’s slopestyle snowboard event. Select quotes from the very-quotable Kotsenburg press conference are below.
On winning the first gold of Sochi 2014: "Winning a gold on the first day in the first event slopestyle has ever been in the Olympics, I never thought it would happen."
On being at the Olympics: "I’m so stoked to be here."
On being part of Team USA: "Reppin’ USA was so cool. Being part of the team environment was so sick."
On his final run: "I dropped in and did a cab-270 on to the first downrail and followed up with a half-cab on the second feature. And then a half-cab up layback backside-180 off the cannon box. And then a cabbed-up double-cork 1260 Holy Grail crab with 10 off the toes with rockin’ air and back 1620s with a hand grab."
On being compared to Jeff Spicoli from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High": "That is sick, I’m so down with that."
On his training regimen: "My mentality isn’t about training or going to the gym. I just like riding."
On his preparation from the night before: "Snacks. Eat snacks and watch opening ceremonies. We were chilling really hard."
On defending his gold: "Yeah, that would be pretty cool. I’d hope to be back in PyeongChang for sure."
Written by Ed Hula III
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com,for subscribers only.
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