Rome rules out using Vatican for 2024 bid

KUALA LUMPUR: Rome will not use the Vatican for events in its 2024 Olympic bid, a top Italian sports official said Sunday, as Toronto gave stronger hints that it will join the campaign.
The Italian capital was one of the first of the four cities so far in contention to announce that it would compete. Budapest, Hamburg and Paris are also in the race, while Los Angeles is expected to enter after Boston’s embarrassing withdrawal. Toronto is also considering entering.
Giovanni Malago, president of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), said the historic Colosseum could be used in the Italian campaign. Rome’s mayor, Ignazio Marino, has proposed using the Colosseum for medal ceremonies.
But Malago said the exact role of would only be revealed after the International Olympic Committee deadline for bids closes on September 15.
Early reports also said an event like archery could be held in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican. But Malago ruled this out for religious reasons.
“It would not be right to involve the Vatican in our bid” because of its connection to the Roman Catholic Church, he told a small group of reporters on the sidelines of an International Olympic Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur. The CONI president said Rome wanted all religions involved.
“Islamic, Hebrew, Catholic, they will be co-protagonists” in the Italian campaign, Malago commented. He also ruled out holding a referendum as some other Olympic candidate cities have.