By Daily Sports on September 22, 2016

Rome is set to drop its bid to host the Olympic Games in 2024, after its anti-establishment mayor said it would be "irresponsible" to be a candidate.

Her decision was a blow for the city's Olympic committee which had hoped to change her mind. But officials said she had failed to turn up to a meeting.

Rome last hosted the Games in 1960 and also pulled out of the bidding for the 2020 Olympics for financial reasons.

Boston and Hamburg have already dropped out of the running for the 2024 Games. Germany has not hosted Games since 1972, and Hamburg's decision to pull out was made in a referendum. (bbc.co.uk)

In ancient times here, Roman emperors offered the thrill of bread and circuses to appease and divert a restless population.

That tactic, it seems, no longer works. These days, Rome is a city which can barely pick up its own rubbish.

Among many Romans, the idea of hosting an Olympic Games hasn't provoked much enthusiasm.

The new mayor knows that. She comes from the populist Five Star Movement, which has strongly opposed a bid for the Games.

Ms Raggi has had a difficult first few weeks in power. Her tenure has been overshadowed by accusations of mismanagement and cover-ups. Rejecting the Olympics may be her way of winning back popularity and asserting her own authority over the city.

In ancient times here, Roman emperors offered the thrill of bread and circuses to appease and divert a restless population.

That tactic, it seems, no longer works. These days, Rome is a city which can barely pick up its own rubbish.

Among many Romans, the idea of hosting an Olympic Games hasn't provoked much enthusiasm.

The new mayor knows that. She comes from the populist Five Star Movement, which has strongly opposed a bid for the Games.

Ms Raggi has had a difficult first few weeks in power. Her tenure has been overshadowed by accusations of mismanagement and cover-ups. Rejecting the Olympics may be her way of winning back popularity and asserting her own authority over the city.

The Roma 2024 committee issued a statement saying they were "profoundly surprised and disappointed".

They were disappointed "that a new political force is unwilling to accept the challenge of modernisation," it said, claiming that the Games would have boosted Rome's economy by $1.7bn (£1.3bn; €1.5bn).

But Ms Raggi disagreed. "We are effectively asking the people of Rome and of Italy to shoulder the debts. We just don't support it," she told reporters.

"No to the Olympics of concrete, absolutely not! No to cathedrals in the desert," she said, suggesting that Rome would have been left with redundant sports facilities.

The mayor said Rome was still paying out for the last time it held the Games in 1960.

The International Olympic Committee will elect the host at a vote in Lima, Peru, in September 2017, with Paris considered the favourite after unsuccessfully bidding for the 1992, 2008 and 2012 Games.

How much does it cost to host the Olympics?

Rome bid officials set a budget of €5.3bn (£4.5bn; $6bn) to host the Games, with a plan to use existing venues for 70% of the sites.

That was a template used by Los Angeles in 1984, when existing stadiums and other facilities were used and the Games made a profit. LA's projected 2024 budget is $4.52bn, with a hoped-for profit of $150m.

But most cities have made a loss. The 2004 Athens Games cost almost €9bn and increased Greece's public debt.

The 2016 Rio Games cost an estimated $12bn.

London 2012 went three times over budget and cost £8.77bn ($11.4bn), although the event boosted trade and investment by an estimated £9.9bn.

Has the Olympics been a success for Brazil? (bbc.co.uk)

•Photo shows Virginia Roggi

Nigerian league chief, Dikko, declared wanted

A Federal High Court in Jos has declared Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of League Management Company (LMC), wanted for contempt.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that policemen from the FCT command stormed the LMC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday in search of Mr. Dikko after he disobeyed court orders.

The warrant also demanded the arrest of Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of LMC for the same offence.

The policemen, who stormed the LMC/LaLiga Office in plain clothes, searched the corners of the premises for the two men before proceeding to the residence of Mr. Dikko at Lake Chad Crescent in Maitama, Abuja.

The search yielded no fruit as both were said to be on the run and could not be arrested.

The staffers of the LMC were seen in their offices doing their job and refusing to utter a word to the policemen on the whereabouts of their masters.

The court bailiff had on Tuesday served the FCT Police Command the warrant of arrest for the LMC chieftains signed by Justice I. Kunda last week for them to be committed to prison for contempt.

A Jos High Court last Friday sentenced Messrs. Dikko and Salihu to two weeks imprisonment for disobeying a court order.

The orders had sought the reinstatement of Giwa FC to the Nigeria Professional Football League and rescheduling of all its matches or a stoppage of the ongoing league in pursuit of the appeal at the Appeal Court.

But the orders were disobeyed as LMC refused to halt the league without reinstating Giwa FC.

The development consequently necessitated the court to issue Form 48 and 49 to them before sentencing them to prison.

Form 48 was an initiation of contempt proceeding, while the Form 49 was the contempt proceeding proper. (NAN)

•Photo shows LMC Logo

Source Daily Sports

Posted September 21, 2016

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