With the previous experience of holding an incredible Summer Olympics, I believe there is a great chance for Beijing.
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“A lot of the members were pretty agreeably surprised to see there were now two candidates in the race”, Canadian member Dick Pound told The Associated Press.
China’s Zhang Haidi, vice president of the bid committee (left), speaks at a news conference about the Beijing 2022 bid for the winter olympics at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 27, 2015.
Beijing and Almaty today embarked on a frantic final lobbying campaign for the 2022 Winter Olympics ahead of a decision this week on the victor. “China are favourites but they can still be beaten”, said one IOC member, speaking on condition of anonymity. But Oslo, Stockholm, Krakow in Poland and Lviv in Ukraine withdrew because of public fears over the cost.
“Whether China or Kazakhstan wins the honour… the IOC will face an extreme test of its new commitment to improve human rights protections”, Minky Worden, Human Rights Watch director, said this month. The mountains in view or in the far distance?
A truly global destination for worldwide travelers, Beijing 2022 will offer a Games with world-class accommodation, efficient transport, diverse gastronomy and endless entertainment, combined with the history and natural beauty of snow sport venues Zhangjiakou and Yanqing. The growth of winter sports in Almaty is directly tied to the city and region’s long-term goals and is a key element in the planning for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
As with its 2008 bid, Beijing has come under intense criticism from human rights groups who say giving it the games will only reward the communist government for its strict limits on political organization and freedom of speech.
Kazakhstan has been accused of media restrictions and doing little to stop violence and discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. “We hope that you are aware by now that the 2008 Beijing Games did nothing to alleviate human rights abuses in China or enhance freedom”.
The delegation will show the desire and pursuit of Chinese people for Olympic Games once again, also with Beijing’s ability and confidence to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, according to Wang Anshun, Beijing Mayor and President of the Beijing 2022 Bid Committee.
“In addition to snow, you also must have the capacity to receive games clients, to organize games, to provide all the necessary facilities for tourists, have a strong security arrangement and other areas”, she said. Almaty’s slogan, “Keeping it Real”, is a not-so-subtle dig at China’s reliance on man-made snow.
The Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics finally appear to have been dragged back on track following long delays and questions over venues with sponsors finally getting on board.
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“Almaty’s bid for the Winter Games is driven by our people’s passion for winter sports and is well aligned with our long-term sports infrastructure plan”, said Arystanbek Mukhamediuly, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Culture and Sport. “For China, the end of the games is the beginning of many years of sustainable and healthy use of the venue legacy”.
