Burns, Helios' President, has worked on four winning Olympic bids - Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018 - as well as on Russia's successful campaign to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Following their stunning success with Pyeongchang, who swept to a first round victory at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Durban in July following two previous failed bids, Helios' services were much in demand among the cities bidding for 2020.

But they have chosen Rome, who last hosted the Olympics in 1960, having also been strongly linked with Doha and Istanbul. 

"We are pleased to have a great partner like Helios onboard for Rome 2020," said Mario Pescante, the Rome bid chairman and IOC vce-president.

"Their reputation within the Olympic movement makes them a perfect fit for our existing, excellent team."

Helios' other recent successes have included the Kazan 2013 Universiade bid, the Kazan 2015 FINA World Championship bid and golf's successful campaign to rejoin the Olympic programme in Rio in 2016 after an absence of 112 years.

Helios will work alongside Robert Fasulo, the former chief of relations at the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), who has also been hired to help Rome's bid.

Fasulo, an Italian speaker, has previously also held senior posts at the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations and International Associaton of Athletics Federations.

Helios will also be working with Geroge Hirthler, a long-time Olympic bid strategist and communications expert.

It follows the decision last month that Helios and Hirthler & Partners would join forces.

Burns (pictured) and Hirthler are former business partners; their previous firm, Helikon Media, worked on the successful Beijing 2008 and Vancouver 2010 Olympic bids before.

"George Hirthler is not only a dear friend, he is one of the most respected, creative minds in the Olympic Movement," said Burns, who founded Helios in 2004.

"He will add tremendous depth to our already successful bid city services offering, and I believe our combination offers a unique opportunity to any city aspiring to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Rome 2020 chief executive Ernesto Albanese said Helios will aid in "brand positioning and messaging, assisting with the development and production of our applicant and candidature files" and "preparing our team for all presentations to the Olympic Family and the international sports community".

If Rome is awarded the games, Pescante has said the Olympic budget would be €9 billion (£8 billion/$12 billion).

Rome's bid is centered around mostly existing venues used for the 1960 Games, notably the expansive Foro Italico complex that hosts the 80,000-seat Stadio Olimpico, a newly built 10,500-seat tennis stadium and outdoor pools used for the 2009 swimming World Championships.

There has been some criticism of the bid in Italy because of the country's dire financial crisis and Pescante warned that they do not have an open cheque book.

"It is our hope that Rome 2020 can be a blueprint for a return to fiscal responsibility and real sustainability in the Olympic bidding process," he said.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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