Rome departure throws 2020 Games race wide open

BERLIN (Reuters) - The surprise departure of Rome from the race to host the 2020 Olympics has put the spotlight on the finances of the five remaining candidates, with Azerbaijan's Baku and Qatar's Doha, initially seen as outsiders but flush with cash, set to gain in status.

With the Italian capital, among the frontrunners, out of the picture as the country slashes public spending amid wider euro zone concerns, Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul complete the list of bid cities.