Italy Olympic leader urges 2020 Rome bid

MILAN (AP) - Italy's Olympic committee president has urged the government not to drop Rome's bid for the 2020 Games amid concerns over the country's financial crisis.

Premier Mario Monti, who heads a government tackling Italy's economic problems, has been noncommittal about guaranteeing funds for the Olympics.

Olympic committee chief Gianni Petrucci urged Monti to commit to the bid, calling it a "unique and one-time opportunity'' to bring the games back to Rome for the first time since 1960.

In an interview with Corriere della Sera on Tuesday, Petrucci said postponing the candidacy until the 2024 Olympics would put Italy in a tough position against possible bids from South Africa, France and the United States.

Also bidding for 2020 are Madrid; Tokyo; Istanbul; Doha, Qatar; and Baku, Azerbaijan.