Six Aspiring Host Cities for 2022 Winter Olympics Submit Their Bids

Six names of city applicants vying to host the 2022 Winter Olympics were announced Thursday by the International Olympic Committee.

Contenders

These are the names of the cities that manifested bids to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Almaty, Kazakhstan
In preparation for its bid to host the 2022 Winter Games, Kazakhstan acted as host to the 2011 Asian Winter Games. Almaty is the former capital city of Kazakhstan. It is the largest city and business center in the country. Almaty will also serve as the venue of the 2017 Winter Universiade.

Beijing, China
 The Chinese Olympic Committee announced on November 5, 2013 that it would bid for Beijing to host the Winter Olympics in 2022, along with Zhangjiakou City in Hebei province. Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics. The bid proposal for the 2022 hosting states that the indoor ice sports would be conducted in Beijing while outdoor snow competitions would take place in Zhangjiakou

Krakow, Poland
The offer to host the 2022 Winter Olympics was announced by the Polish Olympic Committee on November 7, 2013. If Krakow City wins in the bidding, it will be the first time for Poland to host the Games.

Lviv, Ukraine
On November 5, 2013, the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine submitted an official bid for Lviv to host the Winter Games in 2022. The only experience of Ukraine in hosting Olympic events was in the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow. As part of the Soviet Union, which was the main host of the Games, Ukraine served as venue of some football competitions.

Oslo, Norway
Oslo citizens voted in September 2013 to support Norway’s bid in hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics. Following the people’s approval, the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports announced on November 6, 2013 that Oslo would be submitted as candidate to anchor the Winter Games in 2022. This is Oslo’s fifth hosting bid since it last anchored the Winter Olympics in 1952.

Stockholm, Sweden
The Swedish Olympic Committee signified Stockholm’s intention to bid for the hosting of the 2022 Winter Olympics last November 11, 2013. The 1912 Summer Olympics took place in Stockholm but this is the first time it will vie for the Winter Games. If Stockholm wins the bid, skiing events will be held in Are, about 380 miles away from the capital city.

According to the NOC, the winning city will be announced in 2015. Meanwhile, the hosting of 2018 Winter Olympics has been awarded to Pyeongchang, South Korea. There were only three cities that offered to host the 2018 Winter Games.

Hosting as lasting legacy

International Olympics Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has expressed delight that there are six cities contending for the 2022 Winter Games. He said that these cities truly know the benefits that hosting the Games can bring to their nation and people. Accommodating the Games, Bach added, provides a long-lasting legacy to the host regions.

2014 Winter Olympics

In February 2014, Sochi, Russia is hosting the Winter Olympics. Sochi has already put in early highlights of the event such as the recent space launching of the Olympic torch by two Russian cosmonauts. The torch relay, expected to finish in time for the February opening event, is now underway.

Photo Credit: 2014 Winter Olympics to be held in Sochi, Russia