New candidature comes after Fidal withdrew Rome's 2027 bid two years ago.The Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL) has formally submitted Rome's candidacy to host the World Athletics Championships in either 2029 or 2031, the sporting body announced.The bid dossier has been transmitted to World Athletics and includes a letter of support from sports minister Andrea Abodi, indicating that the Italian government has endorsed the project as valid. Under the process established by World Athletics, candidate cities have until 5 August to complete their documentation, including the mandatory guarantees of economic sustainability. In Rome's case, those financial guarantees will require further detailed discussions with the government. The host city decision is expected to be announced in September.  Italy has hosted the World Athletics Championships only once before: in 1987, at Rome's Stadio Olimpico. The same venue staged the 1960 Olympic Games and the 1974 European Championships, and hosted the European Athletics Championships again in 2024. In February 2024, Fidal withdrew Rome's bid to host the 2027 World Athletics Championships after the government failed to guarantee the requested funds of €85 million (out of a total of €130 million) required to host the event. Rome sports councillor Alessandro Onorato reacted angrily to the "unreasonable" decision, comparing prime minister Giorgia Meloni to the capital's former Virginia Raggi who torpedoed Rome's chance of hosting the 2024 Olympics eight years ago. Sports minister Abodi hit back at Onorato, claiming that the government had done "everything possible" to support the bid but that it was not possible to find the public guarantees necessary to cover the €85 million requested. The next edition of the World Athletics Championships will be held in September 2027 at the National Stadium in Beijing, China. Photo credit: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com

The Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL) has formally submitted Rome's candidacy to host the World Athletics Championships in either 2029 or 2031, the sporting body . The bid dossier has been transmitted to World Athletics and includes a letter of support from sports minister Andrea Abodi, indicating that the Italian government has endorsed the project as valid. Under the process established by World Athletics, candidate cities have until 5 August to complete their documentation, including the mandatory guarantees of economic sustainability. In Rome's case, those financial guarantees will require further detailed discussions with the government. The host city decision is expected to be announced in September.  Italy has hosted the World Athletics Championships only once before: in 1987, at Rome's . The same venue staged the  and the 1974 European Championships, and hosted the European Athletics Championships again in 2024. In February 2024, Fidal  to host the 2027 World Athletics Championships after the government failed to guarantee the requested funds of €85 million (out of a total of €130 million) required to host the event. Rome sports councillor Alessandro Onorato reacted angrily to the "unreasonable" decision, comparing prime minister Giorgia Meloni to the capital's former Virginia Raggi who torpedoed  eight years ago. Sports minister Abodi hit back at Onorato, claiming that the government had done "everything possible" to support the bid but that it was not possible to find the public guarantees necessary to cover the €85 million requested. The next edition of the World Athletics Championships will be held in September 2027 at the National Stadium in Beijing, China. Photo credit: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com