Renzi: Italy will look to 2028 if Rome Olympic bid rejected

ROME (AP) Premier Matteo Renzi says Italy will bid with a different city for 2028 if Rome's mayor rejects the capital's candidacy for the 2024 Olympics.

Renzi tells Rtl radio, ''The decision is up to the city and we'll accept that, it's either yes or no.''

He says ''I think it would be a mistake, a very sad move'' if Rome drops out.

But Renzi adds that ''if the city decides no, it means that for 2028 we'll bid with another city.''

New Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi has voice opposition to the 2024 bid, but has not formally rejected the candidacy. A decision is expected by October when the next part of the bid dossier is due at the IOC.

The other 2024 bidders are Los Angeles, Paris and Budapest, Hungary.