Rome 2024: We Will Keep Fighting

(ATR) Rome 2024 says it will not let opposition to the bid stop its leaders from "following the Olympic dream".

The Rome 2024 bid and the Italian Paralympic Committee opened the doors to Casa Italia again Thursday evening in Rio for the ‘Roma 1960 - Roma 2024: La Storia Continua’ event. Although in a different location than during the Olympics, the famed Italian hospitality remained.

Nearly 100 guests were offered several courses of traditional Italian cooking served by renowned chef Gabriele Rubini – better known as Chef Rubio – as well as beverages, gift bags and a presentation from the bid.

"The mission is not to just host the games, it is to show that people are special and they can go beyond their limits," Rome 2024 vice president and Italian Paralympic Committee president Luca Pancalli told the guests.

"It also is a chance to transform the culture of the people; it’s not just an event for athletes. Countries grow not just with hosting the Games but also by investing in people, not just the events and venues."

Rome 2024 is trying to use its experience from the Rio 2016 Paralympics to help convince newly elected Mayor Virginia Raggi that the Olympic and Paralympic bid will help transform the city.

Mayor Raggi vocally opposed the bid in her campaign with the Five Stars Movement. However, the Mayor has yet to decide whether she will support the Olympic project after being elected. Pancalli addressed the elephant in the room at the event.

"Everyone knows the situation of Rome 2024 but we will keep fighting," he said. "This event is dedicated to Rome 2024 because we want to share with you our passion and desire to fight until the end."

Around the Rings is told that a meeting between the bid committee and the Mayor will take place after the Paralympics conclude.

Rome 2024 general coordinator Diana Bianchedi tells ATR in an exclusive interview that it is important to speak with the Mayor starting from the point of changing the accessibility of the city.

"I think our project will help the suburban areas in Italy that need a lot of work, especially in terms of accessibility," Bianchedi says. "Rome isn’t that big but it’s an ancient town and the town needs to change the idea of mobility so the people have the possibility to use more public transportation."

Head of international relations Simone Perillo tells ATR that the age of the city is not a detriment to the bid.

"Rome is the eternal city," he says. "It has a lot to give to the Olympic movement. We would provide the perfect setting with our history and culture."

Bianchedi says the observer program at the Rio 2016 Paralympics is the perfect opportunity for Rome 2024 to learn what it takes to host the Paralympics.

"The program here is important not only to realize how to design the city for the Paralympics but also to be able to understand the needs of the athletes," she tells ATR. "It's not just creating accessibility in a technical way; it's about changing the culture of the society."

The Rome bid does have the support of Italian athletes. Each of the Italian medalists at the Rio Olympics signed a letter to Mayor Raggi asking her to not "close the door in front of a unique opportunity".

"You can give a decisive impetus to our dreams, enthusiasm and motivation for all the Italian sports," the letter reads. "We ask you not to withhold your support for the candidacy of Rome."

"Rome is our capital and we are all at its side in the battles that you are waging to bring it back to its former glory. We will be happy to be riding now, together, to win a dream, a hope: Rome 2024."

Reported by Kevin Nutley at Casa Italia in Rio de Janeiro.

Presentation translation by Veronica Pesaresi.

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