Beijing to host 2022 Winter Olympics
Despite the problem of the absence of snow, Beijing, China's capital has been awarded the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. In the final bid at Kuala Lumpur, Beijing overpowered its only competitor, Almaty (Kazakhstan) by a close margin of 44-40. Having hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics, it will become the only city to host both the summer and the winter Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the bidding calendar in October 2012. The application deadline was set for 14 November 2013. The Executive Board analysed the bids on 7 July 2014 and picked Oslo (Norway), Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Beijing (China) as the final candidate cities. Oslo abjured its bid on 1 October 2014 with Beijing and Almaty as the remaining final candidates.
The Beijing Olympic Games Bidding Committee disclosed the gymnasium layout for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Beijing and neighbouring city Zhangjiakou were jointly bidding to host the game. The layout planned to reuse some of the venues already built for the 2008 Summer Olympics. But the layout relied on fake snow for a lot of events to be held on mountain tops such as skiing.
Beijing leaders convinced the delegates that they had plentiful water supplies and snow making equipment to simulate ideal skiing conditions for athletes. The IOC stated that Beijing fitted their agenda of "stronger focus on sustainability, legacy, and transparency." As China mostly planned to rely on existing venues, it would be easier for it to meet the total estimated cost of $1.5 bn.
Chinese President, Mr. Xi Jinping in a video addressed to the IOC had said, "Let me assure you that if you choose Beijing, the Chinese people will present to the world a fantastic, extraordinary and excellent Olympic Winter Games in Beijing."
Members of the IOC which is holding its annual congress at Kuala Lumpur, voted in favour of Beijing over its only competitor, Almaty. The narrow margin indicated as to how conflicted voters were about their choice of giving hosting rights. After electronic devices failed, voting was conducted through traditional paper ballots. Beijing won over the delegates with some explicit plans for 2022 Winter Olympics.
