Italy Tempted by Rome Bid for Summer Olympics After Winter Success
Italian organisers are now actively contemplating a bid for the 2040 Summer Games, following the recent Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, which IOC President Kirsty Coventry praised for setting "a new, very high standard." This potential move marks a significant shift in Italy's Olympic ambitions, leveraging the momentum from a successful winter event.
CONI President Advocates for Summer Games Return
Luciano Buonfiglio, president of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), expressed his firm belief over the weekend that "our country deserves another Summer Olympics." He emphasised, however, that "a candidacy has to be agreed on and shared with the government," highlighting the need for political consensus and support at the highest levels.
Rome's Olympic History: Scars and Strengths
This potential future endeavour follows a series of past disappointments for Rome. Its 2024 Olympic bid was rejected by then-Mayor Virginia Raggi a decade ago, while then-Premier Mario Monti scrapped the city’s 2020 candidacy due to financial concerns. Rome also narrowly lost the 2004 Games to Athens in the final round of voting.
"Scars help you remember" the defeats, said Giovanni Malagò, the head of the Milan Cortina organizing committee and former CONI president. But Malagò, who is also an IOC member, suggested that Rome has key advantages in Olympic circles: its "unique" history of failed bids and the centrepiece venue for any Summer candidacy.
Infrastructure and Sustainability Advantages
Rome boasts a 70,000-seat stadium with an athletics track — which Malagò noted is "huge in terms of sustainability." The existing Stadio Olimpico and surrounding Foro Italico complex would provide a natural setting for athletics and swimming, the two biggest sports at the Summer Games, reducing the need for costly new construction.
Mayoral Support and Organizational Confidence
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said during the Milan Cortina Games that he believes his city has "the conditions" for another bid — especially after welcoming more than 33 million people to the capital and Vatican for the 2025 Holy Year. "If it’s considered a realistic goal, I’m open to collaborating with the IOC, government and CONI to create the most competitive bid possible," Gualtieri stated. "A capital like Rome should not fear big challenges. The Jubilee showcased our organizational capacity for major events."
Geopolitical Timing and Future Considerations
With the 2028 Games in Los Angeles and 2032 in Brisbane, Australia, and nations like India and Qatar bidding for 2036, the 2040 Summer Games seem destined to return to Europe. However, Malagò cautioned, "Now is not the time to discuss this. It’s premature, wrong and even counterproductive. We must understand the geopolitical landscape for post-2032."
Political Speculations and Strategic Planning
Malagò declined to elaborate on speculation that he will run for Rome mayor after completing his Milan Cortina duties, saying he would discuss "ideas that I have in mind" after next month's Paralympics. Meanwhile, Andrea Abodi, Italy’s Minister for Sport and Youth, added: "It doesn’t necessarily require an announcement to build a winning bid," suggesting a more measured, behind-the-scenes approach to any potential campaign.
