The 2022 Olympics: Bread and Circuses, Beijing-Style

Well known Chinese athletes such as Yao Ming – a member of the bidding team for the games – see the awarding of the bid to Beijing as an opportunity to ignite interest in winter sports here.

“Almaty is not a risky choice for 2022”, Massimov told the IOC delegates.

The IOC has said the new host city contract to be signed by the winning bid would ensure human rights protection and non-discrimination as well as free reporting during the 16 days of the Games. “In fact, we are quite the opposite…. We try to give information to Tokyo.

Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong, who led Beijing’s final presentation to IOC members early on Friday, said political stability, economic strength and a harmonious society will guarantee smooth delivery of the 2022 Olympics.

The French capital narrowly missed out to London for staging the 2012 Games, following failed bids for the 2008 and 1992 editions respectively to Barcelona and Beijing. The figure skating legends brought home China’s first gold medals in the said sport at the previous Olympic Winter Games and World Championships. “We know China will deliver on its promises.”. “That address by the prime minister today was brilliantly crafted”. I think they did a great job.

Patrick Baumann, IOC Member in Switzerland and Lausanne 2020 bid leader, said: “I would like to thank our Romanian friends for their passion and the spirit of fair play that they have shown over the last few months”. “So, It’s highly necessary, significant and important for us to host the Winter Olympics”. Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch, referred to as it a “a slap within the face to China’s besieged human rights activists”.

“This decision will further harm China’s most vulnerable groups and also undermine what remains of the IOC’s credibility”, the group Human Rights in China said in a statement.

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. The snow events are slated to be held in Yangqing and Zhangjiakou, which are 40 and 90 miles, respectively, outside Beijing.

Beijing and Almaty were considered outsiders when the 2022 race opened two years ago.

And the city said that much of the infrastructure developed for the 2008 Summer Games would be reused in 2022, including the famous “Bird’s Nest” stadium. Taking into consideration the minimal number that cinched Beijing’s victory, it could be assumed that the decision making process inside the chambers of the IOC meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia had been inflicted with great debate and discussion.

“I’m walking down the main street of the village that is supposed to be a transport hub, after they construct a high-speed railroad from Beijing”, Anthony says.