ROME (AP) — Italian officials say IOC Vice President Mario Pescante is the new choice to lead Rome’s bid to host the 2020 Olympics after the withdrawal of two other candidates.
Italy’s Olympic chief Gianni Petrucci says Pescante, a former Italian Olympic Committee president himself, would bring a “high sports profile” as leader of Rome’s efforts to host the Summer Games for the second time.
Two other candidates for the job, Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo and fitness equipment tycoon Nerio Alessandri, have turned down the post.
Pescante has served as an IOC member since 1994 and was elected to a four-year term as a vice president in 2009.
Rome, which hosted the Games in 1960, was chosen over Venice last year to be Italy’s candidate for the 2020 Summer Games. The winning city will be chosen in 2013.
