Abstract

Although Pierre De Coubertin pursued the aim to award the 1908 Olympic Games to Rome, the plan failed and the Games were awarded to London. Examining unpublished documents regarding the positions of Italian sport leaders, politicians, and city officials, and IOC delegates, this work identifies the reasons for the failure of the Rome's candidature. The article explores the conflicts between the young sport clubs and gymnastic federation, the cultural debate, which surrounded the candidacy, the important role played by the Italian aristocracy, the rivalry between Rome and Milan and Turin. In the second part, it analyzes the links between some members of the Italian sport movement (including politicians) and the representatives of the IOC. Finally, the authors try to understand whether the unsuccessful organization of the 1908 Olympics in Rome was determined by the lack of governmental funds (as a result of the indifference of the politicians), or by other factors, such as the inertia of local administrators and sport managers, the shortage of private contributions, the choice of policy makers to prioritize the 1911 Universal Exhibitions at the expenses of the Olympic Games.