A meeting took place during the opening of a new athletics stadium today ©Rome 2024

Rome 2024 remain hopeful their bid could retain the support of the new city authorities following a meeting today during an event to open an athletics track in Ostia.

This comes as the bid continues a fight for its survival following the election of Five Star candidate Virginia Raggi as Mayor on an anti-Olympic mandate last month.

A delegation including bid vice-president Luca Pancalli and Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) President Giovanni Malagò met with the city's deputy Mayor Daniel Frongia, who has special responsibility for sport, as well as City of Rome Five Star Movement leader, Paolo Ferrara.

This was billed as an impromptu attempt to open dialogue and express a "willingness for a common understanding".

“We are open to dialogue," said Frongia after the meeting, which followed the opening of the Giannattasio Athletics Stadium.

"It is appropriate that the people that represent the City ask questions.

"Especially now, that there is a new city administration.

"A discussion and dialogue would be very helpful.

"There is no predetermined position from our side, and I am pleased with the discussion.”

The meeting took place during a ceremony to open a new athletics track ©Rome 2024
The meeting took place during a ceremony to open a new athletics track ©Rome 2024

Malagò, in turn, promised that the bid can be flexible and undergo changes to fit in with the demands of the new authorities.

“The candidature file submitted in February is not the Bible," he said.

"We can adjust it.

"It is important to understand what is being critiqued, but from our side we are absolutely ready to discuss any changes, and delegate with the other representatives.”

This comes as a tentative boost to a bid which was interpreted by many as being doomed as soon as Raggi was elected on a wave of populism last month.

It is expected that a more formal meeting with Raggi could be held soon.

City officials have been keen to point out, however, that nothing has changed in their position, and that they have not expressed their support for the attempt.

It also remains possible that a referendum could be held on whether to press forward with the bid, with this reportedly mentioned during the meeting today.

This would be a major risk considering almost all Olympic bid referendums have proved unsuccessful, including one in Hamburg last year which prompted the German contender's withdrawal from the race.

Budapest, Los Angeles and Paris remain Rome's three opponents, with a decision due at an IOC Session in Lima in September 2017.