The choice of Tor Vergata, home to the university of the same name, received the green light from environmental organisations Greenpeace, the World Wide Fund for Nature, Lipu, Italia Nostra and Legambiente earlier this month, but the choice is now in doubt. 

It was claimed the decision to build in the area would help to "restore the abandoned Vele di Calatrava structures, bring the subway to an area of Rome that has a great need for it and boost plans to use existing University student dormitories and hospital facilities".

Bianchedi has reinforced their desire to use the area for the Athletes’ Village, claiming it is one of the five key venues in their bid plan.

It comes after Rome 2024 bid leader Luca de Montezemolo and Giovanni Malagò, the President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), indicated that they could potentially alter the location with new Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi believed to be against proposed site.

“Tor Vergata is an urban area in need of development and renewal, efficient access and better integration with the rest of Rome,” said Bianchedi, who won team foil fencing gold at the Barcelona 1992 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

“The area is currently occupied by one of the largest hospitals of the city and a university attended by nearly 42,000 students.

“Choosing to build the Olympic village here would guarantee at least 6,000 residential units following the 2024 Games, which would become part of the university campus, as well as housing dedicated to the families of patients of the hospital.

“This would offer an incredible legacy for the city, and is an opportunity that has already been backed by five major environmental organisations.

“Tor Vergata is one of the five key venues of our dossier, as it represents one of the pivotal pillars of the Olympic and Paralympic programmes."

Raggi has been a leading critic of Rome’s attempts at bringing the Games to the city for the first time in 64 years, and any opposition from her towards Tor Vergata would create another stumbling block.

Bianchedi acknowledged that Rome 2024 would not rule out the possibility of revising some aspects of their plan as they continue discussions with the new city administration.

“It is also true that, from day one, we have committed to developing the Rome 2024 project with maximum cooperation and transparency; thus, we are open to constructively discussing our plans in detail with the new administration," Bianchedi said.

“We will not rule out the possibility for revision of some aspects, provided that the modifications do not compromise the general functionality of the project, which is in full compliance with the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020.

“We will continue to provide the utmost transparency, adhering to the work that has been carried out in the last few days with the Technical Commission of the City of Rome”.

Raggi has previously indicated that a decision on whether Rome should press ahead with its bid will be made in October.

A delegation including bid vice-president Luca Pancalli and Malagò met with the city's deputy mayor Daniel Frongia, who has special responsibility for sport, as well as Rome's Five-Star Movement leader Paolo Ferrara, earlier this month, with Frongia claiming afterwards that the city was “open to dialogue”.

Paris, Los Angeles and Budapest are also bidding for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the International Olympic Committee due to elect its chosen host at its Session in Lima in September 2017.