KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 31 (UPI) — Beijing was awarded the hosting rights to the 2022 Winter Olympics on Friday, making it the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Games.
The International Olympic Committee, during its annual congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, chose Beijing over its only competitor Almaty, Kazakhstan in a 44 to 40 vote. The two cities were left in the running after Oslo, Munich and Stockholm bowed out over concerns that spending millions in public money isn’t in their best interest. Many considered Beijing a poor choice because of tepid climates not known for winter activities.
Before the vote, President Xi Jinping made a last minute vowed to put on a “fantastic, extraordinary and excellent” event.
“We are honoured and humbled by the International Olympic Committee’s decision to award Beijing the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” Beijing’s bid committee said in a statement after the vote. “Just as with the Beijing 2008 Summer Games, the Olympic family has put its faith in Beijing again to deliver the athlete-centered, sustainable and economical Games we have promised.”
The Winter Games will be split between three sites: the city of Zhangjiakou, 125 miles from Beijing in the Hebei province; in Yanqing, a mountainous region to Beijing’s north-west; and in Beijing itself. A key component to winning the bid was its pledge to reign in the air pollution that has enshrouded the city. Beijing’s mayor, Wang Anshun, told the committee steps have been taken since the 2008 Summer Olympics, among them is removing a million high-emissions vehicles from the road.
“All our efforts are moving Beijing towards a clean energy future,” Wang said.
