Berlusconi pledged his backing for the Olympic effort after International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president Mario Pescante was appointed to lead the bid.
Pescante, a 72-year-old former Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) president, was appointed after Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo and fitness equipment entrepreneur Nerio Alessandri turned down the position. Rome, which hosted the 1960 Olympics, lost to Athens in bidding for the 2004 Games.
“The government will do its utmost to help the candidature for the 2020 Olympic Games,” said Berlusconi, who is due to face trial in three embezzlement and fraud cases in the coming months in addition to a prostitution trial. “It is the first official candidature and this will contribute and provide incentives to the economic development and growth of the city.”
Pescante told reporters: “We have shown when we are under pressure that we can make things work, but we will need to be united. We will have to overcome many difficulties and the financial report that we will present to Parliament will be an important step.”
The Italian capital is the only city so far to be nominated for the 2020 Games, although other bids are expected from South Africa, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Spain. Pescante will be assisted by Rome Mayor Giovanni Alemanno and CONI chief Gianni Petrucci, who are both vice-presidents of the bid. The host city will be chosen by the IOC in 2013.
