Safioleas has already worked on successful bids to host the 2012 and 2018 Olympic Games from London and Pyeongchang respectively.

The Greek has been working on the Italian capital's Olympic and Paralympic campaign since June.

He was also involved in wrestling's successful campaign to remain on the Olympic programme after Rio 2016.

The sport was reinstated in September 2013 following a decision from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board the previous February to remove the sport from the Games.

Safioleas, who has also worked on Olympic bids made by Chicago 2016, Madrid 2020 and Almaty 2022, as well as for the Athens 2004 Organising Committee, holds a Ph.D in engineering management and technology policy.

He has also worked as a consultant for the World Bank in Washington D.C.

In June, Ketchum was appointed as Rome 2024's international public relations firm.

The Milan office of the company, founded in the United States in 1919, will run operations with the firm also a key player in wrestling's reinstatement.

The company was chosen as part of a worldwide bid process and they will work alongside Rome 2024 right up until the IOC Session in Lima, which is due to take place in 2017 and is where the 2024 host city will be announced. 

Budapest, Los Angeles and Paris are also in the running.

The decision marked the end to the search by Rome 2024 for a leading communications company after it was mutually decided their contract with London-based PR firm Milltown Partners would not be extended after it expired in January. 

This was due to the departure of director David Bond, the former sports editor of the BBC and Daily Telegraph, who has returned to journalism as European media correspondent at the Financial Times.

Rome is currently battling to keep its bid alive, after the appointment of Olympic skeptic Virginia Raggi as the city's Mayor.

It is difficult to see how they can stay in the race without the support of the city's most prominent official, who has said she believes money should be spent on other public services and not an Olympics.

However, bid organisers remain confident she can be won around and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is a keen supporter of Rome's efforts.

A decision on whether to proceed is expected in October.