Retired Chinese professional basketball player Yao Ming smiles during a press conference for the Beijing 2022 Olympic bid
When it comes to votes on Olympic host cities, geopolitics can play a crucial role in determining the victor.
That’s likely to be the case more than ever today when the International Olympic Committee chooses between Beijing and Almaty, Kazakhstan, for the 2022 Winter Games.
It’s a contest between China, the world’s most populous nation and a rising global giant with a huge economy, against a young country and former Soviet republic in Central Asia that is hoping to establish itself as a player on the world stage.
Against that backdrop and after a low-key campaign, Beijing goes in as the strong favorite as it bids to become the first city to host both summer and winter games.
“The general feeling is that Almaty may do a little better than most people would have thought,” IOC vice president Craig Reedie told The Associated Press yesterday. “You have to believe the sheer weight of Chinese influence on a worldwide basis may be enough to swing them over the line.”
If today’s vote among 86 IOC members were strictly on technical merits, Almaty would have an advantage because of its winter sports history and setting, surrounded by mountain peaks covered by plenty of natural snow — hence the slogan “Keeping it Real.” Almaty boasts 70 percent of venues in place and a compact layout with all venues within a 30-kilometer radius.
“We have a lot of challenges in Kazakhstan,” Prime Minister Karim Massimov said. “But snow is our advantage.”
Beijing would use several venues from the 2008 Summer Olympics, including the ‘Bird’s Nest’ stadium and ‘Water Cube’ arena.
“Legacy is everything,” former NBA star and Beijing bid team member Yao Ming said. “Beijing 2008 allowed us to experience the Olympic spirit, and 2022 gives us a chance to carry on the spirit.”
Beijing’s mountain events would be held at venues in Yanqing and Zhangjiakou, 60 and 140 kilometers away from the city. A planned high-speed rail line to Zhangjiakou is designed to cut travel time to 50 minutes.
In contrast to Almaty, Beijing would rely heavily on artificial snow. Chinese officials said they have plenty of water supplies and snow-making equipment to provide excellent conditions. Stephen Wilson, Sports Writer, AP
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