The 2022 Winter Olympics seems to be The Games that few want to host. Almaty in Kazakhstan and the Chinese capital of Beijing are the only two cities to submit proposals to the IOC to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Of the original 6 cities that were interested [Krakow (Poland), Lviv (Ukraine), Oslo (Norway), Stockholm (Sweden)] 4 have pulled out due to low public support.
Oslo, a early front runner, was the latest and most notable to pull out of the running.
“Almaty 2022 can be a catalyst for social, economic and sports growth in the region where winter sports facilities are badly needed,” said Zauresh Amanzholova, Deputy Mayor of Almaty City.
The Chinese are also talking up their bid as the two cities battle it out. If Beijing wins the games it will be the first time a city has hosted both the summer and winter games.
“Today is an important day for the Olympic Winter Games in 2022 because we will now have the opportunity to see the vision of the two Candidate Cities. For the Candidate Cities, it is a unique opportunity to present their ideas about the organisation of the Olympic Winter Games, and for us a moment that we have been looking forward to for some time,” said the IOC President Thomas Bach.