Rome Moves On from F1, Targets 2020 Olympics

After countless “advices” to forget about a Formula 1 plans and focus on other perspectives, Rome seems to have finally decided to set new sporting goals for the future. According to the city's mayor Gianni Alemanno, Rome should now evaluate the possibility of bidding for the 2020 Olympics.

“The road has not been completely closed, but the interests of our city must be compatible with the national ones,” the Roman mayor was quoted as saying in an interview with La Repubblica newspaper.

Additionally, Alemanno hinted that Rome should “take a step back” regarding its F1 plans and that a press conference will be held in due time to clear the situation.

In recent days, some rumors suggested that Rome and Monza could rotate in hosting the Italian Grand Prix from 2012 onwards, but Alemanno revealed the relationship between the two cities would not have made the situation fruitful.

“We have always maintained contact with the mayor of Monza, with the ministers of the north and all those of the Lombardy region. I have to say that we never found a great dialogue, even when we stressed that if it was a choice between Monza and Rome then we would pull back,” added the mayor of Rome.

In the same interview, the Italian official urged the government to make a “stronger commitment regarding the 2020 Olympics” and suggested that plans to have Rome organize the event are “not just ambitious but achievable.”