Government Crash Won't Deter Rome Olympic Bid

(ATR) The demise of Silvio Berlusconi and his government will not derail the Rome bid for the 2020 Olympics say leaders of the campaign.

After 10 years in power, Berlusconi says he will resign in the coming days, as soon as parliament passes an austerity package meant to tame the country’s raging debt problem. Berlusconi was under pressure internationally as well as within his coalition to step down.

The impending change in government was announced the same day that the board of directors for Rome 2020 held its latest meeting. But even in the shadow of an economic crisis, bid leaders said there is no reason to quit the race.

"The project goes forward and there is no challenge to the application," chairman Mario Pescante told reporters after the meeting.

Ina statement the board says it recognizes the issues affecting Italy, but that the Rome 2020 project would be beneficial to the entire country.

The board approved a 31 million euro budget for the bid at the Tuesday meeting.

While the budget for the bid seems certain, Rome 2020 will still need the government to endorse guarantees required by the IOC to back the finances of an Olympic Games. The guarantees are supposed to be part of the application the 2020 cities will file with the IOC in February.

The other 2020 bids are from Baku, Doha, Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo.

Next week, a feasibility study being prepared for the bid by IOC member Franco Carraro is due to be released.

Written by Ed Hula.

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