OLYMPIC OFFICIAL 'PESSIMISTIC' ON ITALY BIDS

OLYMPIC OFFICIAL 'PESSIMISTIC' ON ITALY BIDS

(ANSA) - Rome, October 23 - International Olympic Committee Vice President Mario Pescante on Friday said he was pessimistic that Italy could stage a credible bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.

Three Italian cities - Rome, Venice and Palermo - have unveiled plans to bid for the whole summer Games while a fourth, Bari, is said to be gearing to bid for the soccer tournament.

On Thursday the island of Sardinia said it was interested in hosting the swimming and diving events.

''If it goes on like this I'm pessimistic,'' said Pescante, one of Italy's top sports figures.

''We're getting to the point where it's beyond a joke. Bids are being made just out of local pride, just to get people talking''.

''We're our own worst enemies,'' said the former sports minister.

Pescante has stressed the importance of Italy quickly establishing which could the best bidder so that the whole country can support a single bid.

''Once we've decided on the candidate we have to get solidly behind it,'' he said last week.

Bids must be presented by the end of 2011 and the winner will be announced in 2013.

Rome hosted the Games in 1960 while Venice, at first glance an unlikely site, has never entertained major sporting events.

Palermo hosted the World University Games 12 years ago.

Italy was credited with doing a good job at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics.