Rome beats out Venice as Italy's candidate for 2020 Summer Games Bid

Rome was selected over Venice by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) Wednesday as Italy's candidate for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.

Venice was eliminated because the bid did not fulfill the necessary criteria. According to a CONI report "Venice would not reach the points threshold laid down by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)".

Reuters reports Venice's bid had romantic appeal but very few of the events would have taken place in the city. Bid organizers planned on using the neighboring cities of Treviso and Padua as part of the proposal to regenerate the area.

Rome hosted the 1960 Games and lost to Athens in the voting for the 2004 Games.

Rome proposes a budget of $61 million (U.S.) with a bid that includes 70 per cent of already existing venues. The bid is centred around two central areas, the Foro Italico that was the centre of the 1960 Games and features the 80,000-seat Stadio Olimpico, and a new sports centre in Tor Vergata on the outskirts of Rome, now under construction.

The IOC will decided in 2013 who will host the 2020 Summer Games. Via GamesBids.com