Palermo joins Rome and Venice in Italian race for 2020 Olympics bid

Palermo announces plans to bid for 2020 Olympics

PALERMO, Sicily — Palermo joined the list of Italian cities interested in bidding for the 2020 Olympics on Tuesday.

Rome and Venice already announced their desire to host the games, setting off a round of bickering over which city would be a better candidate. Officials in the Sicilian capital will unveil their plans Thursday in Rome.

The Italian Olympic Committee will decide next year which bid to put forward. The International Olympic Committee will select the 2020 host in 2013.

Italy has the highest number of IOC members with five — Mario Pescante, Ottavio Cinquanta, Franco Carraro, Francesco Ricci Bitti and Manuela Di Centa. Last week, Pescante was elected as one of the four IOC vice presidents.

Rome was considered the favorite for the 2004 Games but lost to Athens. The capital hosted a highly successful Olympics in 1960, and Turin hosted the 2006 Winter Games.