Rome submits bid for 2024 Olympics

ROME: Emphasising its "incomparable beauty" amid a widening corruption scandal, Rome formally submitted its bid for the 2024 Olympics on Friday to mark a turnaround after a 2020 candidacy was scrapped three years ago because of financial concerns.

Mayor Ignazio Marino, bid leader Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malago signed the candidate application at City Hall - which overlooks the Roman Forum - and sent it to the International Olympic Committee.

"Thus begins a path of construction and sharing for the capital of a plan that will offer athletes and the entire world the chance to experience the Olympic spirit and emotions in a setting of incomparable beauty," a statement from the Rome committee said.

With history and culture in mind, Marino suggested earlier this year that medal ceremonies be held inside the Colosseum, which was backed by IOC President Thomas Bach.

Hamburg, Germany, sent in its letter on Wednesday, while Paris, Los Angeles, and Budapest, Hungary, are other declared bidders.

The IOC deadline for formal submission of bid entries is Tuesday. The host city will be selected in 2017.