ROME (AP) – Italy suspended Rome’s bid for the 2024 Olympics on Tuesday, forced to pull the plug because of the staunch opposition of the city’s mayor.
Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malago said that had written to the IOC announcing the decision to “interrupt the candidacy.”
While the letter left open a small possibility for a revival of the bid if there is a change in city government, Malago didn’t hold out much hope.
“Today the game is over. But if someone decides that the game isn’t over it’s not up to us. But today we’re ending the game,” Malago told The Associated Press after his announcement at a news conference. “That’s it.”
The move comes after Rome’s city council voted last month to withdraw support of the bid on the recommendation of Mayor Virginia Raggi.