The President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, announces the winning bid as people celebrate in Beijing
Chief Executive Chui Sai On has congratulated Beijing on winning the bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
The Chinese capital is the first city to have been invited to host both the summer and winter Olympic Games.
According to a statement issued by the Government, Mr Chui composed a letter to the Beijing Olympic Games Bidding Committee, which congratulated them on beating the rival bid from Almaty, Kazakhstan.
“I am truly happy to learn that Beijing has been chosen to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. Macau’s population remains by the Chinese people’s side with great enthusiasm,” said Mr Chui.
He added that Beijing’s successful bid shows that the Chinese capital has the capacity and confidence necessary to host such a huge event. He believes this is yet another step toward reinforcing China’s image as a leader in the world of sports.
“Since openness and reform policies were implemented, our country’s international status has improved continuously in regards to economy, infrastructures, education, social development, quality of life improvement, and also sports,” he recalled.
Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008. AP reported that Beijing and Almaty were considered long shots when the 2022 bid race opened two years ago.
After several European contenders withdrew from the race – including Oslo and Stockholm – Beijing beat Almaty by 44 votes to 40 with one abstention. The International Olympic Committee said that Beijing won because it fitted its new agenda of “a stronger focus on sustainability, legacy and transparency.”
Criticism from human rights groups over the committee’s decision began to pour in soon after the announcement, AP reported.
“China wants the world to ignore its deteriorating human rights and be impressed by Chinese can-do pragmatism instead,” said the International Tibet Network. CP
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