Rome bid given Olympic backing

The Italian Olympic Committee has given its endorsement to Rome's bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

All 64 of the committee's members voted for the candidacy at a council meeting on Thursday in Milan.

Boston, Hamburg and Paris are expected to compete against Rome for the right to host the Games.

"This was not only a formal step, but also an important signal of support from across the world of Italian sport for an event that is, at heart, a celebration of sport and its athletes," bid president Luca di Montezemolo said in a statement.

"It was very pleasing to receive the full backing and encouragement of the federation presidents at Coni today.

"The fact that this message of support was delivered in Milan is also of great significance, because the Rome Games will not simply be an Olympics of the Capital, but the Olympics of all Italy. Venues will not be restricted to the city limits, but spread across the nation."

Rome previously hosted the Summer Olympics in 1960.