IOC publishes evaluation report on 2022 Winter Games bids

Geneva, June 1 (IANS)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday released an assessment report by the evaluation commission prior to the 2022 Winter Games briefing for the members that will take place on June 9 and 10.

The report highlights the strengths and challenges associated with hosting the Olympic Winter Games in 2022 in both candidate cities, Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Beijing (China), reports Xinhua.

The report is also the first of its kind following the unanimous approval of Olympic Agenda 2020, the strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, in December last year.

Almaty’s vision for the Games mentioned in the report is rooted in the desire to accelerate economic and social reforms, while building on the country’s winter sports heritage and showcasing the positive aspects of Almaty and Kazakhstan. Almaty’s concept seeks to deliver a legacy in three areas – sports and physical activity; venues and infrastructure; and economic growth.

Beijing’s vision for the Games seeks to incorporate winter sports into people’s lives, with the ultimate goal of improving overall fitness and health. Beijing 2022 has offered a regional concept intended to develop a winter sports market for more than 300 million people in northern China. This vision is fully aligned with national economic growth strategies and priorities.