Rome's bid to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Rome in 2024 entered a new phase today with the appointment of two times Olympic gold medallist Diana Bianchedi as general coordinator. Bianchedi, 46, enjoyed a long and distinguished career in international fencing culminating with 16 medals including two Olympic gold medals in the team foil at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona and the Sydney Games in 2000 and five world titles and two European titles.

She has held a series of prestigious functions for the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) including Deputy Vice-Chairman, Chairman of the Athletes Commission, executive member of the Anti-Doping Scientific Committee and is currently President of the Merit Commission. Bianchedi, who has a degree in sports medicine, takes over as co-ordinator of the Olympic bid team from Claudia Bugno who is leaving to take up a new, important challenge. "I wish to thank Claudia for her hard work”, said Rome 2024 bid President Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. “Her experience has been important in laying the groundwork of the Olympic bid and to generate a solid and sustainable plan.

“Diana Bianchedi will now take us into an exciting new phase for the bid. As well as being an undisputed champion, Diana is an experienced and capable manager. Her proven knowledge of the world of sport will be an important added value to Rome 2024, a project that focuses on the athletes". CONI President Giovanni Malagò added: "I want to wish Claudia all the best in her new managerial challenge and express my sincere gratitude for her great efforts. “I am excited and at the same time eager that Diana will play an important role in this challenge because it is important to have the presence of a person with her sports management background. Her career in CONI, combined with her sporting history, makes her a perfect leader for this project”.