Rome (AFP) - The populist Five Star movement, which has mayors in Rome and Turin, has clearly stated its opposition to the Italian capital hosting the 2024 Olympic Games.

The party made the stunning gains in June in a stinging blow for Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and although M5S mayor for Rome Virginia Raggi has not publicly voiced doubts, an online piece on Saturday linked to the party's founder Beppe Grillo voiced its opposition.

In an editorial on Grillo's blog entitled "The Games in Rome? No thank you!", party lawmaker Elio Lannutti said the games would only serve to condemn the city's young "to debt and act as a powerful arm of massive distraction".

Raggi, Rome's first female mayor, has repeatedly pledged her loyalty to the party's founder and continually repeated in her election campaign that the games were not a priority for the Eternal City.

Rome is one of four candidates vying to host the Olympics in 2024 along with Paris, Budapest and Los Angeles. The quartet must submit the second part of their candidacy by October 7.

Prime Minister Renzi on Saturday deplored the party's stand, and dismissed its contention that the money used to host the games could be better spent.

"I am proud to be Italian but I am sad when my country refuses to take up a challenge that would please many, simply because of a few people," he said.

"Rome 2024 is a great opportunity for Italy. It's not by accident that we are in pole position," he said.

"Either the money for the games comes to Rome or it goes to Paris," he added.