Nothing short of a world war would prevent the Salt Lake City Winter Games (8th-24th February, 2002) from being staged, International Olympic Committee (IOC) director general Francois Carrard said yesterday.

Carrard's comments counter those made by Norwegian IOC member Gerhard Heiberg. Heiberg yesterday cast doubts on next year's Games proceeding if the US is formally at war.

"The point is everyone is planning for the Games to be held, there is no plan B," Carrard said. "If there was something like world war three, with no travelling, no planes flying, a real full scale war, then we would have to see what happens.

"There are no discussions to cancel the Games. If anything it is the exact opposite. Since the September 11th attacks we have had a wave of support. Everyone believes it is more necessary than ever for the Games to go ahead."

Carrard travels to Salt Lake City for a co-ordination commission meeting next Monday to Wednesday.

"What Mr Heiberg was probably referring to was that if there is a war - and I'm not saying this is war - the IOC is entitled to withdraw the Games. There is such a clause in the host city contract."

Heiberg said the co-ordination committee would discuss whether the US-led strikes on Afghanistan should be defined as an armed conflict, a military operation, a fight against terrorism or war. "A country at war cannot organise the Olympics," Heiberg said.

Meanwhile, Rome is aiming to take over the running of the 2005 World Athletics Championship from Britain in an attempt to show it is worthy of staging the 2012 Olympics, Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL) president Gianni Gola said yesterday.

International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) president Lamine Diack has ruled out a bid from another British city after the British government refused to back a proposed development at Pickett's Lock, London.

Gola hopes Rome can fill the void and believes it could be the passport to a successful attempt by the Eternal City to stage its second summer Games after the 1960 running.