Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is to head Rome's bid to stage the 2024 Olympic Games.
The 67-year-old, who is currently chairman of airline Alitalia, resigned as Ferrari supremo in October after 23 years in the role, during which the Scuderia won eight constructors' championships.
However, Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malago claims that Di Montezemolo is the right person to lead the bid.
He told reporters: "There isn't another Italian personality who is as popular as he is abroad That says it all."
Rome are likely to face competition from Boston and one of Hamburg or Berlin, while bids from Doha, Istanbul and Baku have also been mooted.
