Venice

Rome and Venice are to bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games, the mayors of both Italian cities told the Ansa news agency on Friday.

The bids by both cities were announced at the same time as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Copenhagen named Rio de Janeiro host city for the 2016 Summer Games. 

"Venice is an 'icon city' unique in the world with international recognition," said the city's major Massimo Cacciari, adding that they were hoping that the bid would accelerate urban development in Venice and the surrounding region of Padua and Treviso.

"The choice of Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Games offers a big opportunity to Italy and Rome for the next edition in 2020," said Rome major Gianni Alemanno.

"More than half a century after the fantastic Games of 1960 (in Rome) we can dream of bringing the Olympic rings back to the Italian capital," added Alemanno.

"The time has come for an Italian bid for the 2020 Games," added Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) president Giovanni Petrucci.

"There is one principle: the host city but it's Coni who decides and who presents the bid to the IOC," he added.

- AFP /ls