77% of Italians favorable to Rome’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games according to Ipsos Research

The Rome 2024 bid Committee publishes the results of an opinion poll relating to the possibility of hosting international events in Italy, with a specific focus on Rome’s bid to host the XXXIII edition of the Summer Olympics.

The 2.200 interviews conducted by polling firm IPSOS revealed that 3/4 of Italians are in favor of hosting large events in the country- also drawing from recent successful events like the 2006 Olympics and EXPO 2015 -, while 77% (between Romans (66%) and  Province residents (76%) )  have expressed support for Rome's Bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games, with the Paralympic Games emerging as a major sport event known to about 60% of the interviewed population.

The consensus stems from the perceived opportunity that the Games represent in triggering  employment, as well as in promoting a positive image of the country at the international level; while at the same time fostering the City’s infrastructural development and delivery of services to its residents.

Rome’s Bid is also strengthened by the trust of the many who believe in the good and transparent management of the event. Overall, the idea of hosting the Games found full support in the population which identifies the event as an incredible opportunity for the country.

View the complete Ipsos research

Intense reviewing session ahead of the appointment with the IOC

Reviewing session time for Rome 2024, in preparation of the Olympic summit dedicated to Rome’s bid for the 2024 Olympic Games between Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and IOC president Thomas Bach, planned in Lausanne on next Thursday. This week was marked by some important preparatory meetings aimed at finalizing the candidature file the IOC will receive  on  February 17^th .

Today took place the second meeting with the Board of Trustees, where the participants had the chance to discuss and share the main guidelines of the project in light of the principles contained in the Olympic Agenda 2020.

The bid Committee, with its President Luca di Montezemolo, the Vice President Luca Pancalli, the General Coordinator Diana Bianchedi, together with the President of the Italian Olympic Committee Giovanni Malagò also welcomed representatives of the main environmental associations. “It has been a very constructive debate which will be followed by a more technical one,  confirming our bid process as a shared endeavor one” said the general coordinator  Diana Bianchedi. Bid Committee President Luca di Montezemolo further commented: “I was positively impressed by today’s inclusive spirit as well as by a careful and constructive approach towards the Olympic project. We have all the same goal: to ensure that the Olympic and Paralympic Games will play a decisive role in renewing Rome from a structural, environmental and technological front”.

The Committee has also met with the team of the University of Tor Vergata - Rome coordinated by Professor Beniamino Quintieri whose analysis and study on the sustainability and legacy of the 2024 Games is now in advanced phase: "We are producing a report for the Committee on the evaluation of the real socio-economic benefits of the Games for the city of Rome and Italy. We will evaluate the employment growth, the increase in tourism, foreign investments as well as the improvement of services and infrastructures. We currently have estimated that, thanks to the Games, about 180,000 jobs will be available for young people” explains the professor. “It is still premature to make any definitive claims based on this study. Nevertheless, this analysis shows that the Games would guarantee additional revenues for 1 billion euros, I am then even more convinced that we have a unique opportunity for the renewal of Rome, a world’s a heritage that belongs to all Italians”. 

Torch Tour for Lillehammer 2016 underway

The Lillehammer 2016 Torch Tour kicked off last night at the Norwegian Sports Awards Gala.  Attended by the Crown Prince and the 19 inspirational young Changemakers that have been nominated in each of the 19 counties to carry the Torch.  They have been nominated for their activities in the community to use sport for good. The next stop will be tomorrow in Alta, the very far north of Norway and over the next month it will wind its way down to Lillehammer in time for the Opening Ceremony on 12 February.

Olympic dossier, 11 cities designated as football hosts. Malagò: “It’s the candidature of the whole Country”

Rome's candidature for the 2024 Olympic Games continues in its momentum and is increasingly becoming a national candidature. After Cagliari's designation for sailboat races, here are the choices of the cities that will be mentioned in the dossier regarding the football tournament. From North to South, it is a top team, with 11 hosting cities: Turin, Milan, Verona, Udine, Genoa, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples, Bari and Palermo. The tournament, which will be arranged in two parts involving the entire Italian peninsula, according to the current state of the art, would take place like this: the qualifying rounds with games at Turin’s Juventus Stadium, Genoa's Luigi Ferraris, Udine's Friuli, Verona’s Bentegodi, Bologna’s Dall’Ara, Florence’s Franchi, Bari’s San Nicola and Palermo's Barbera. The quarter finals and the semifinals at Milan's Meazza and Naples’ San Paolo and the two finals at Rome’s Olimpico.

This part of the dossier dedicated to football was illustrated by CONI President Giovanni Malagò, the President of the Rome 2024 Promotion Committee, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the Vice President of Rome 2024 Luca Pancalli, the General Coordinator of Rome 2024 Diana Bianchedi and CONI Secretary General Roberto Fabbricini, during a presentation that took place at the headquarters of the Committee.

"The choice of city demonstrates that this is the candidature of the whole Country - emphasised Malagò -. It is easy to think of grouping Turin with Genoa, Udine with Verona, Bologna with Florence, Bari with Palermo. Milan and Naples were left out and they will be guaranteed at least one of the quarter final matches and one semifinal. At present, the Italian stadiums that meet the requirements are four: the Olympic, where we will make the last technology upgrade to host a round of the 2020 European Championships; the Juventus Stadium, which has recently hosted a final of the European League; San Siro, which in May will host the Champions League final, and the Friuli. On 17 February we will present the final dossier to IOC. But we have another year’s time for any variables".

"From Turin to Udine, Verona, Milan, from Bologna to Florence, from Bari to Naples, Palermo and Rome itself. With ten stadiums plus the Olimpico, we cover the entire national territory - adds Luca Cordero di Montezemolo -. All these facilities represent the Italian football tradition. Many of these are already up to Olympic standards, other will be upgraded, also due to current developments, which are going at the speed of light. If we think that in 2020 we will have cars with no driver, in 2024 technology will have a fundamental all-encompassing role". "Thanks to the addition of these locations in Rome's Olympic candidature dossier - continues Montezemolo - these marvellous Italian cities will have the possibility, for the first time, to live the Olympic dream, as has already happened for Rome and Naples in 1960 and for Turin in 2006. The candidature of Italy's Capital for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics becomes the candidature of the whole of Italy".

Talking about dossier preparation, the General Coordinator of Rome 2024, Diana Bianchedi, explains that "the momentum of our activities is very intense and the unity of purposes is very strong in our work with all institutions". Luca Pancalli, Vice President of the Rome 2024 Committee, highlights instead the "invisible work" of the Committee because "a great candidature starts by intercepting a critical mass on the territory, transforming it in something positive". For this reason the President of the Italian Paralympic Committee is working with Rome’s municipal Presidents "to explain to citizens with transparency what we are doing, to convince people of the opportunity that comes with hosting the Games, clarifying that there will not be any cathedrals in the desert and that everything will be done in the interest of the city

Cagliari chosen ahead of Bari as sailing venue for Rome's bid

Cagliari was today announced as the city chosen as the venue for sailing competitions for the Rome bid for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The news is published  on the Rome 2024 Committee website (www.2024roma.org). After a long and deep analysis, an evaluation commission concluded the Sardinian capital offered the best weather-marine conditions with better intensity of wind and greater regularity. Other aspects such as the environmental situation of the city on a human scale, the travel time, the Olympic village and the international popularity as a city of sailing, had a positive influence on the decision. The Legacy plans presented by Cagliari were also a further factor. In the coming months the International Federation (ISAF) will be in the city chosen for a final opinion.

Background

17 candidates in the first phase

In the first phase, started on October 7th, the Commission invited the Regions to communicate the names of the candidate cities (max 2 ) and then sent a questionnaire for the realization of the dossier. Having received all the dossiers they were evaluated and classified on the basis of two main factors: weather and environmental values and infrastructure and logistics on the territory. The two cities that came out on the short list were Cagliari and Bari.

The final challenge between Cagliari and Bari

On November 25th letters to the two cities were sent and visits for the preparation of a second dossier were fixed. From From November 30 to December 2 a visit to Cagliari took place with the participation of the city's Mayor Zedda. From December 2 to 4, a visit to Bari took place with the participation of Mayor De Caro. The main areas of interest were analyzed: the airport, the Olympic Village area, travel distances and major infrastructure. Weather data and environmental sustainability were compared. A comparative analysis of weather data, and environmental sustainability was carried out also on the "competitors" (Marseille, Kiel and Long Beach) to then finally get to the verdict that assigns the victory to Cagliari.

National Council press release

CONI's National Council No. 242 met this afternoon, at 2 pm, at the Foro Italico, to discuss the following agenda: 

1) Approval of the minutes of the 9 November 2015 meeting: the minutes were approved unanimously.

2) Report from the President: Malagò, after paying tribute to the sportsmen who died in the last month, and highlighting the important results obtained in this same period, gave a brief summary and stressed the importance of the institutional events that took place during the past week, which included the launch of the logo for Rome 2024, the ceremony to award the golden Collars in the presence of the Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, the Holy Mass for Sportsmen, officiated by His Grace Fisichella, and the reception with the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.  Malagò then talked about the strength and cohesion of the Rome 2024 team, recalling the journey to Lausanne on 21 January with Prime Minister Renzi for the meeting with the head of IOC, Thomas Bach.  The candidature dossier is in an advanced phase, the details are being finalised. To this end, meetings took place between the representatives of the Rome 2024 Committee and those of the Federations, in addition to a round table with the Italian Presidents of the International Federations and the members of IOC. Surveys to identify the ideal locations are still ongoing, as in the case of sailing.

The good relations with the Government were reiterated: the funding project "Sport and suburbs", with the allocation of 100 million Euros for facilities in suburban areas undergoing regeneration, is a tangible proof of this.  In addition to addressing social degradation, the interventions will need to also envisage the inclusion of competitive sport practice. The first seven facilities chosen in the last few days are a starting point: a commission will be set up, with the purpose of evaluating the proposals received and establishing the areas considered by the intervention: in the last days, 453 requests were received; everything will be decided with the maximum observance of formal criteria and the maximum transparency, in compliance with four mandatory selection stages.  Defibrillators' issue: three Regions have acted autonomously, the date for compliance has been moved to the beginning of February. The President reminded participants that CONI is carefully following the procedures relating to the issue raised by the Central Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), to this day in line with the intentions of Federations. The discussion then veered onto the extraordinary news arrived in these days with regards to candidatures: the allocation to Italy of the 2018 Male Volleyball World Cup (Finals in Turin) and also of the 2022 Ryder Cup; the latter will use the Marco Simone circuit, which incidentally is also the circuit identified by the 2024 Olympic Game dossier.

The IOC Athlete Commission has asked the Regulation to be upgraded to the Italian system. Different parameters have been introduced for participation to the Commission in relation to the growth of non-Olympic disciplines: an important stepping stone also for the candidature of Alessandra Sensini to the International Olympic Committee.

The Committee was then briefed on the completion of the survey conducted by the marketing office in Rio for "Casa Italia" and on the restrictions in connection to the concession of credits. The next Board Meeting will take place on 26 January in Cortina D'Ampezzo to celebrate 60 years of Winter Olympic Games. Meetings are taking place with the Federations that have inherited past budget problems. Seasons greetings ended the communications of the last National Council. The President's report saw interventions by Ugo Claudio Matteoli (Recreational Fishing), Maurizio Casasco (Sport Doctors), Giovanni Petrucci (Basketball), Sabatino Aracu (Hockey and skating), Franco Chimenti (Golf), Carlo Magri (Volleyball), Andrea Mancino (Representative for Associated Sport Disciplines, with a communication from the National Council in relation to the guidelines for the new management software for the register of sport clubs), Ugo Salines (Representative of the Organisations for the Promotion of Sport) and Romolo Rizzi (Bowls). There was then also the intervention of Enrico Cataldi, Procurator General for Sport.

3) F.S.N.-D.S.A.-E.P.S Activity: Approval of the minutes of the New Athlete Regulation. With no other matters arising, the proceedings were closed at 3:40 pm.

Press Release of the National Board

This morning at the Foro Italico, meeting no. 1041 of the CONI National Board took place, and it started by approving the minutes of the previous meeting of 9 November. In his speech, President Malagò started by complimenting the female and male athletes that gained world-class results in the last month. The launch of the new Rome 2024 logo was met with approval, as were the successful ceremonies for awarding the Golden Collars in the presence of Primer Minister Matteo Renzi and for the reception of Olympic and (for the first time) non-Olympic disciplines world champions at the residence of the President of the Republic (Quirinale).

The Board nominated Giovanni Di Blasio, Marco Datti and Marcello Guarducci to the Anti-Doping Controls Commission upon request by the Head of NADO Italy. The next Board meeting will take place in Cortina on 26 January, at the same time as the celebrations for the 60 years since the inauguration of the Winter Olympic Games in Cortina in 1956. The Olympic Club was then updated with the addition of six new athletes. The new informatics system relating to the registry of sport clubs was presented to the Board. After having examined a long series of other organisational and administrative issues, and having formulated the necessary resolutions, the Board ended the meeting at 1:05 pm.

World champions welcomed to by the President of the Republic at the Quirinale. Mattarella: your example makes Italy a better place

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, received this morning at the Quirinale a big delegation of Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and, for the first time, of world champions of non-Olympic disciplines. The ceremony, called to celebrate the Italian successes obtained in 2015, was attended by the Secretary General of CONI, Roberto Fabbricini, the Deputy Secretary General, Carlo Mornati, members of IOC Franco Carraro, Mario Pescante and Ottavio Cinquanta, by honorary member Manuela Di Centa, and many Federal Presidents and sport organisations recognised by CONI.

The President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, opened the day with his introductory speech. "We are proud of this historic meeting for what it means to our world, composed of 30 million practising individuals and 11 million registered members. I want to thank President Mattarella for the sensitivity and generosity he has demonstrated, allowing us to gather Olympic and Paralympic disciplines together, and to extend the invitation to athletes of non-Olympic disciplines. I am sure that this will be a historic precedent. It is a particularly happy moment for Italian sport: yesterday's ceremony, which saw the awarding of Golden Collars in the presence of Prime Minister Renzi, the launch of the Rome 2024 logo, the allocation to Italy of the Ryder Cup, which is the third event in the world in terms of importance, are all historic events that should be witnessed with pride. I would therefore like to renew my thanks to the President for his closeness to us: any time each of our athletes makes our national hymn resound and our flag go to full mast, without fail he phones me to express his congratulations and friendship, with closeness and also with a level of competence that I must say has surprised me. This, for us, is extraordinarily important".

The President of the Italian Paralympic Committee, Luca Pancalli, emphasised the importance of this moment. "This is an extraordinary day for all our family, to which I belong since I was 17. My "boys" are proud of their azure outfit and have honoured our flag around the world, bringing a message of hope: after the drama of a road accident or of an illness, which would have floored anybody, they achieved extraordinary results, giving us courage, passion and determination, and today they are here as champions. We dream of hosting the Paralympics in Rome in 2024 for the meaning this would carry. Sport goes beyond state borders and overcomes barriers, gives special meaning to life, is a daily victory that must be celebrated with pride and joy".

The event then saw contributions by Flavia Pennetta, winner of the "US Open" tennis tournament, and Alessandro Zanardi, Winner of three golden medals at the cycling paralympics on Nottwill surface. Pennetta spoke of the "emotion and satisfaction of athletes present, for having left their personal mark in competitions of great importance". It makes us proud to hear of the closeness of President Mattarella and obtain so many rewards that bring prestige to our country". Alex Zanardi echoed the gratitude coming from the Paralympic world. "Life teaches us that great conquests are reached with small steps. This ceremony is extraordinary, it makes us proud, and it is also important for who tried without succeeding.

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, closed the ceremony emphasising the importance of sport as a tool for well-being, capable of expressing key values for our society. "You are the champions, the emblems and symbols of Italian sport.  Your successes promote sporting practice and provide a serious contribution to the well-being of the Italian people. I am not talking only of physical well-being, but of a practical and concrete example of good conduct. Paralympic sport, for example, allows who has a disability to adapt it to his life's requirements, even it is not possible for the disability to be eliminated; therefore, Paralympic sport is important for all disabled people and for everyone who finds facing a competition more demanding than other people. Sport means fairness, fair play, following the rules: all qualities that our country is in great need of. For this reason, we must remain firmly against any form of doping. The example given by sport champions seeps deeply into the social fabric. For this reason, I really liked CONI's initiative "Win as grown-ups", conceived to offer children in difficult social and local environments a free and eye-opening sport, education and personal experience, representing an important opportunity to follow a healthy growth and development process. I renew my encouragement to you in advance of the Rio 2016 Games, hoping that they will bring us many medals, also with a view to Rome 2024: the logo is very beautiful, I hope that we will reach the finishing line".  

Holy Mass for sportsmen at Saint Peter's. Monsignor Fisichella: also sport is a vocation

This afternoon, at Saint Peter's, the Holy Mass for Sportsmen was officiated, closing 2015 and at the same time celebrating the Jubilee of Mercy. A strong representation of Federal Presidents and exponents of the sporting and institutional world participated in the service officiated by Monsignor Rino Fisichella, in the presence - amongst others - of the chaplain of the Italian Olympic team, Don Mario Lusek and of the undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture Melchor Sánchez, who formulated the rite of entrance through the Holy Door.

There was also a considerable presence of athletes, including Eleonora Giorgi and Antonella Palmisano (Athletics), Vincenzo Capelli, Matteo Castaldo, Marco Di Costanzo, Matteo Lodo, Niccolò Mornati and Giuseppe Vicino (Rowing), Martina Centofanti, Sofia Lodi, Alessia Maurelli, Marta Pagnini, Camilla Patriarca, Andreea Stefanescu (Rhythmic gymnastics), Odette Giuffrida (Judo), Frank Chamizo Marquez (Wrestling), Silvia Di Pietro, Erika Ferraioli, Laura Letrari (Swimming), Tania Cagnotti (Tuffi), Michele Frangilli, Marco Galiazzo, Mauro Nespoli and David Pasqualucci (Archery), Giulia Conti and Francesca Clapcich (Sailing), Arianna Fontana (Short Track), Carolina Kostner (Figure skating), the Olympic Games winner Enrico Fabris (Speed skating), together with youth Volleyball representatives and some army sport groups.

Monsignor Fisichella, in his homily, reminded everyone that "God has a plan for everyone. Even sport is a vocation, if we were not follow our vocations we would be sad. This Jubilee, ordered by Pope Francis, means to experience that God, in spite of everything, is close to us. This is the time for the great forgiveness. Lets take football for example: if the players on the field were to do what they want, would they win the championship? What is the coach there for? One must need to be able to have discipline, and a plan. There are moments in which there is the need of a greater help". Readings were made by Marco Durante (President of the CONI Athletes Committee), Matteo Castaldo, Tania Cagnotto, Frank Chamizo and Giulia Conti. The choir of the service was directed by Lorenzo Porzio, coxless four bronze in Athens 2004.

Golden Collars awarded to historic and 2015 champions. The Prime Minister Renzi: Italy wins with you

A golden parade. Italy's winning spirit reaches out to the world, portraying the outstanding nature of Italian sport. They were many, showing the present, past and future of sport through a single lens: victory. This morning, in the Sala delle Armi of the Foro Italico, the traditional ceremony for the highest of sport awards: Golden Collars, Star for Sporting Excellence, and Golden Palm for Coaching Excellence. Champions of all ages and times, capable of making history, the clearest expression of a movement that represents the fifth force of the Olympic Medal Collection of all times, between summer and winter editions. World champions of 2015 and Italian Olympic champions from 1948 to 1994 provided a moving series of memories and victories, in the presence of the Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi.

The event, opened by the address of the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, was also attended by the Secretary General, Roberto Fabbricini, the President of CIP, Luca Pancalli, members of the CONI Board of Directors Valentina Turisini and Fiona May, and also by a significant delegation of Federal Presidents and of the various organisations of the sporting world. 

Malagò welcomed everyone in attendance, emphasising the importance of the successes achieved, which promote a better image of Italy, thanking Prime Minister Renzi and the entire Government for their constant and passionate support of the sport world.  "The contributions of Prime Minister Renzi and of President of the Republic Mattarella were of vital importance with regards to Rome 2024, to support a candidature that constitutes an extraordinary opportunity for the revival and development of the entire country. In addition, the attentive and constant support guaranteed by their special closeness was also of vital importance. Next year, in Rio, the Prime Minister will attend the opening ceremony of Casa Italia, and I believe this is a very beautiful gesture. 2015 was an important year. The beginning was difficult, with mixed results, and then we hit on a series of successes that we had not only been unable to achieve in decades, but also in disciplines where they had never been achieved. I thank and extend an embrace to everyone; this is a historic day to take pride in our sport world, which ennobles Italy as a whole".

The Prime Minister Matteo Renzi celebrated Italian champions with a message of rare strength.  "What a joy, for who represents the institutions, to celebrate you: when you win, Italy wins with you. I have been heavily criticised for going to see Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci, but that time was marvellous. Sport is a founding element of Italian identity". The Prime Minister also talked about the Rome 2024 candidature. "I believe in it more than ever and I am sure that we can play this till the final victory, even if there are some tough contestants. I am sure that if each one of us together do our part, the challenge of hosting the Olympics will be a precious occasions for Italian women and men, for the planning it entails, regardless of its outcome. This year we celebrated important results of international organisations, the next year we will meet again to celebrate the victories in Rio and to look at what we have done and what still needs to be done. I would not forgive myself if we threw away the chance of improving our cities with sport".

The award was given to three great personalities: Giorgio Armani, Gianni Letta and Massimo Moratti. Moving were also the thanks expressed by Armani, who will dress the Italian Olympic team also at Rio 2016. Gianni Letta and Massimo Moratti also emphasised the importance of the award for the meaning it carries. Other special moments included the launch of Rome 2024, in the presence of the President of the Promoting Committee, Luca di Montezemolo, the General Coordinator, Diana Bianchedi, and of Rome's Extraordinary Commissioner, Francesco Paolo Tronca, and the award ceremony for Olympic champions and golden medal Paralympic champions of the past.  The closing of the event saw a dedication to the memory of the great master Ezio Triccoli, father of the multi-award winner Jesi Fencing Club, and to the technical expertise La Mura, rowing coach. After the ceremony, seven new plates of honour in the Walk of Fame were uncovered, on Viale delle Oliimpiadi, dedicated to Maurizio Damilano, Gianni De Magistris, Duilio Loi, Francesco Moser, Enrico Fabris, Armin Zoeggeler and – through personal recommendation by the President of CONI – to Dorando Pietri.