Almaty and Beijing Submit Candidature Files for 2022 Olympic Winter Games – Interviews

Description

Almaty and Beijing submit Candidature Files for 2022 Olympic Winter Games – both cities adapt their bids to reflect Olympic Agenda 2020 “reforms”

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today welcomed the Candidature Files of Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Beijing (China)*, the two cities bidding to host the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
Both cities are being encouraged to reflect the spirit of Olympic Agenda 2020 following the unanimous approval of the 40 recommendations at the 127th IOC Session in Monaco on 8 December. Olympic Agenda 2020, a strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, allows for more flexibility in the bid process, a stronger emphasis on legacy, lower costs and improved sustainability.
“This is an important day for the Central Asian region’s winter sports enthusiasts and athletes,” said Mrs Zauresh Amanzholova, Vice Mayor of Almaty City. “Almaty 2022 can be a catalyst for social, economic and sports growth in the region where winter sports facilities are badly needed,” she explained. “Many recommendations of Agenda 2020 were taken into consideration while developing the concept of the 2022 Winter Games. We believe our bid is a perfect fit with this new philosophy and brings essential benefits to the Almaty and Kazakhstani people,” Mrs Amanzholova concluded.
“Today is an important moment for us and a key milestone in the bidding process as we presented our Candidature File to the IOC,” said Mr Wang Anshun, President of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee and Mayor of Beijing. “Our Candidature File embodies the requirements of the IOC and the philosophy of Olympic Agenda 2020. The important concept of running athlete-centred, economical and sustainable Games will be represented well in our bid and actual organisation of the Games in 2022,” he added.
IOC President Thomas Bach said: “Today is an important day for the Olympic Winter Games in 2022 because we will now have the opportunity to see the vision of the two Candidate Cities. For the Candidate Cities, it is a unique opportunity to present their ideas about the organisation of the Olympic Winter Games, and for us a moment that we have been looking forward to for some time.”
“Working with the two Candidate Cities, we will apply the first reforms which have been approved by the IOC members very recently in Monaco as part of our Olympic Agenda 2020 roadmap. This will be done through ongoing consultation with the Candidate Cities,” he added.
The IOC has informed the Candidate Cities that the 2022 host city can anticipate a contribution from the IOC to the success of the Games of an overall estimated value of USD 880 million. This contribution consists of a share of the revenues from marketing programmes run by the IOC; a contribution related to broadcast revenues; services provided by Olympic Broadcasting Services as the host broadcaster of the Games; and assistance provided to the Organising Committee by the IOC and related entities. In addition, the IOC will also grant other rights and benefits and provide other forms of assistance to the Organising Committee for the success of the Games which are described in the Host City Contract, and this will be made public.
Changes that already apply to the 2022 bidding process include the IOC’s obligation to determine and communicate to the city at the time of its election the full composition of the Olympic programme, and new wording on non-discrimination relating to the Olympic Games and its participants – based on Fundamental Principle 6 of the Olympic Charter.
The IOC Evaluation Commission for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, chaired by IOC Member in Russia Alexander Zhukov, will analyse the Candidature Files and make on-site inspections of the two cities from 14 to 18 February (Almaty) and 24 to 28 March (Beijing). Joining the Commission will be IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi and IOC Head of Olympic Bid City Coordination Jacqueline Barrett.
Together with each bid team, the Evaluation Commission will examine the 14 themes of the IOC’s candidature questionnaire, which includes topics such as vision, legacy and engagement, transport, accommodation, finance and sustainability. The Commission will also visit the competition and non-competition venues proposed in the bid.
The Commission’s report, highlighting the risks and opportunities of the Candidate Cities’ projects and the athletes’ experience, will be published prior to the IOC 2022 Briefing for IOC Members, which will take place from 9 to 10 June 2015, and will be made available on www.olympic.org.
The host city for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games will be elected at the 128th IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur following a final presentation by the cities to the full IOC membership on 31 July.
Please note that the IOC will not release the Candidature Files, but has informed the Candidate Cities that they can make their files public and post them on their websites if they so wish as of 7 January (the official deadline for submitting the files was 7 January midnight CET).
*Cities are listed in the order of drawing of lots as performed by the IOC Executive Board