This is the text of the letter that the IOC President Thomas Bach sent to the CONI President Giovanni Malagò:

Dear President,

Dear friend Giovanni,

Thank you for your letter dated 11 October 2016.

The IOC has taken note of the withdrawal of the Candidature of Rome for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, following the vote of the City Council. Based on the information we have received over the last few days, it has been clearly demonstrated that the City Council’s decision was politically motivated for reasons beyond the Olympic project.

The IOC is fully aware that this was a very difficult decision for CONI to take, enjoying support for the candidature from all other levels of Government and the people of Rome and Italy.

I would like to thank CONI and the Candidature Committee for their outstanding work which resulted in an excellent project for a sustainable, feasible and transparent candidature in the line with Olympic Agenda 2020. There is no doubt that this project would have left a positive and sustainable legacy for the City of Rome and the Lazio Region, to which the IOC would have contributed with an investment of about USD 1.7 billion.

May I also kindly ask you to convey the IOC’s thanks to the Government of Italy, the Regional Government and Regional Council of Lazio and all Italians, who have supported this candidature so much.

Please rest assured that the excellent relations between the IOC and CONI will not be affected by this decision. We will continue to work closely with CONI to promote and develop Olympic sport in Italy.

Wishing you and all the members of your teams in CONI and the Candidature Committee the very best for a successful future, I remain

With kind regards,

Thomas Bach