Rome 2024 are pledging some of the sign-up fee to an earthquake relief charity ©Twitter

Rome 2024 are pledging to give €2 (£1.70/$2.25) of the entry fee for a set of road races taking place across the country next week to charities and earthquake-relief efforts as they seek to boost support for their bid amid continued political opposition.

Competitive 10 kilometres races and non-competitive 5km fun runs will take place on September 10 across the 10 cities of Bari, Cagliari, Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Rome, Turin and Verona.

Entry for each race will cost either €7 (£5.40/$7.70) or €5 (£4/$5.50).

Proceeds will go to the reconstruction of gyms and sport facilities in Amatrice and Accumuli, two cities devastated by the earthquake last month which has left at least 294 people dead.

It is not yet clear which precise charities will be supported, or how much of the money will go to the bid itself.

"At this historic moment for our nation, racing takes on social and humanitarian significance," said the Bid Committee in a statement.

"We are stepping beyond mere competition and embracing the moral and ethical values that best represent the world of sport. 

"The event represents a tangible opportunity to show support for the rebirth of the towns hit by the earthquake this past August 24."

The event comes as Rome seeks to cling on to its bid despite Mayoral opposition ©Rome 2024
The event comes as Rome seeks to cling on to its bid despite Mayoral opposition ©Rome 2024

As well as a further attempt to showcase the Italian bid across the country, the event should also commemorate the 1960 Olympics in Rome, whose best remembered participant was barefoot Ethiopian marathon gold medal winner Abebe Bikila.

But it will also come alongside crunch talks on the future of the bid between Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi and Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) President Giovanni Malagò.

Raggi, elected in June, has repeatedly claimed the bid is an unnecessary extravagance at a time of economic problems elsewhere, and, despite the efforts of bid officials, her views are thought to remain unchanged.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, a staunch bid supporter, has already claimed the country would bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics with another city should the 2024 attempt be withdrawn.

Rome 2024 are now attempting to showcase the bid as a nationwide effort rather than a purely Italian one, with the series of runs taking place across the country one attempt to show this.

More information on the fun run, as well as details on how to enter, can be found here.