Beijing selected to host 2022 Winter Olympics

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 31:  Beijing has been selected to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, becoming the first city awarded both the winter and summer games.

Beijing defeated Almaty, Kazakhstan, in a vote of the International Olympic Committee on Friday. The voting numbers were not immediately released.


The Chinese capital, which hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics, came in as the favorite. Despite a lack of natural snow and winter conditions, Beijing was seen by the IOC as a reliable and safe choice.

Almaty had hoped to bring the games to Central Asia for the first time and raise Kazakhstan's profile on the international stage.

Related story

US announces diplomatic boycott of 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics