Rome And Venice Officially Launch 2020 Summer Bid

Venice Mayor Massimo Cacciari voiced concerns that the lagoon city, which is built on thousands of islands, doesn't have enough space for Olympic-scale sports facilities. He said, "the area that would host the Games is much more extended", adding that it would stretch beyond the city to encompass mainland areas including those near the Marco Polo international airport and those surrounding the cities of Treviso and Padua.

He said, "even if it is still too early, tens and tens of millions of Euros will be needed", when asked about the cost involved in hosting an Olympic Games.

Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno, whose city hosted the 1960 Olympics, downplayed the rivalry between the two Italian competitors.

He said, "we were keen to make our bids together to show that Rome and Venice are competing on loyal terms, in, I dare say, in Olympic spirit".

Rome lost its Summer bid to Athens in 2004 and indicated it would bid for the 2020 Summer Games in 2007.

Rome intends to revamp existing structures - including its 1960 Olympic stadium and facilities used to host the 2009 World Swimming Championships - while also building new ones.

CONI is expected to choose between the two cities in May and the candidature will be forwarded to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that will decide on the 2020 host city in 2011.