Rome 2024 Olympic bid collapses in acrimony

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.
Virginia Raggi of the Five Star movement was elected as mayor of the Italian capital in June.
There was confusion earlier when reports said she had failed to turn up for a meeting with a delegation from the Italian Olympic Committee.
Rome also pulled out of bidding for the 2020 Olympics for financial reasons.
Boston and Hamburg have already dropped out of the running for the 2024 Games, leaving Paris, Los Angeles and Budapest as remaining bidders.
Candidate cities must confirm their application and the endorsement of local public leaders by October 7
In ancient times, 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.