Beijing to host 2022 Winter Olympics; beats bids by Almaty and Oslo

The President of the International Olympic Committee(IOC) Thomas Bach shows the card thereby declaring Beijing as the host city

In a historic decision, Chinese capital Beijing has been awarded the hosting rights to stage the 2022 Winter Olympics. The decision now means that the city now becomes the first one to play host to a summer Olympics (2008) as well as a Winter Olympics.

Beijing faced stiff competition from the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan and Norway’s capital Oslo, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) handed the rights to the hosts of the 2008 Summer Olympics after a secret ballot that was held in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

One of the key reasons why Beijing sealed the hosting rights was its pledge to tackle the toxic air pollution which hides the view of the city completely. The mayor of the Chinese capital Wang Anshun told delegates of the IOC that they were giving their very best to ensure a cleaner energy future.

“All our efforts are moving Beijing towards a clean energy future,” he said.

Reacting to the decision, the vice-president of Beijing’s bid committee said, “This is a breathtaking moment.”

Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jingping had said if given an opportunity, China would provide everybody with a fantastic Winter Olympics.

“The Chinese people are looking forward to this opportunity. 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,” the President had said in a one-minute video address to the IOC delegates.

Now that the call has been answered, it remains if China can materialise their promises into results and create a spectacle that would be remembered by everybody.