ROME (AP) — Rome's bid for the 2024 Olympics is in serious trouble with the city's new mayor maintaining her opposition to the candidacy.
"My position isn't changing. Right now it's really not a priority for Romans," Virginia Raggi told Euronews on Wednesday in her first interview since being elected.
Raggi pointed to spiraling deficits in Olympic cities.
"Already with 13 billion euros ($15 billion) in debt, Rome can't permit taking on more debt to make cathedrals in the desert," she said.
Representing the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, Raggi won a runoff Sunday to become Rome's first female mayor and, at age 37, also its youngest.