Google+ Running in Cork, Ireland: Rome to bid for the 2020 Olympics...

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Rome to bid for the 2020 Olympics...

This one reads like an April Fools Joke. On Wednesday (9th Nov 2011), the Rome Olympic bid committee approved a 31 million Euro budget to bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.

Following a meeting between bid Chairman and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice President Mario Pescante, Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno, and others, the committee said hosting the Olympics would bring economic and development benefits "for Rome and the entire country". Rome 2020 officials reportedly said they are still working on a parliamentary motion supporting the bid, and have already confirmed that the government will help compile a bid file that must be submitted to the IOC by February 15. Officials now say if Rome is awarded the Games, the Olympic budget would be about five billion euros, down from projections of nine billion euros earlier this year.

You really have to wonder what planet these guys are living on? Italy has trouble borrowing enough money to service the debts they already have and now they want to spend €5 Billion on the Olympics!

By the way, the 2004 Olympic games in Athens cost somewhere between 6 and 10 billion Euro depending on who you believe and was way over budget.

Rome is competing with Madrid, Tokyo, Istanbul, Doha, Qatar and Baku for the 2020 Games.

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