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Petrucci: Hopeful for 2020 Games
The choice of Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Games offers a big opportunity to Italy and Rome for the next edition in 2020
Gianni Alemanno
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It has been announced that Italian cities Rome and Venice will both bid to host the Olympics in 2020.
The intentions were announced by the mayors of the cities following the news that the 2016 Games would be held in Rio de Janeiro.
President of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) Giovanni Petrucci believes that the decision to award the 2016 Games to Rio in Brazil will boost the chances of the Games returning to Europe four years later.
"I've spoken about it with the Italian IOC members, who are always influential in terms of numbers and prestige," said Petrucci.
"The time has come for an Italian bid for the 2020 Games."
Rome lost out to Athens in a bid for the 2004 Olympics but the 2006 Winter Games were hosted in Torino. CONI will make the decision over which city will bid for the 2020 Games next year, with the decision set to be announced in 2013.
Mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno agreed with Petrucci that 2020 could be Italy's year.
"The choice of Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Games offers a big opportunity to Italy and Rome for the next edition in 2020.
"More than half a century after the fantastic Games of 1960 we can dream of bringing the Olympic rings back to the Italian capital."
