IOC begins voting on host city for 2022 Winter Olympics

In that sense, probably the most important person on the stage was Yu Zaiqing, a much-respected IOC vice-president, who brought the presentation to a close by asking his colleagues “with the greatest humility” to vote for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic bid.

“The delegation will present to the whole world Beijing’s capacity and confidence to host the 2022 Winter Olympics”, said the Beijing News daily.

While both Kazakhstan and China are vying for the first time of the hosting right for the Winter Games, Kazakhstan will be the first Central Asian country to host Olympic Games if Almaty is chosen.

The presentations could help sway any undecided members ahead of the secret ballot later in the day among 86 expected eligible voters.

The Chinese capital is the clear favorite because of its proven track record but Almaty is a better fit with the IOC’s new reforms, which advocate less expensive and more sustainable bids. But they were the only two candidates left after four European cities – including Oslo and Stockholm – pulled out for political or financial reasons. Almaty was due up first. “We are a golden opportunity to prove that smaller, advancing nations can successfully host the Winter Games”.

But the Kazakh city, Almaty, has gained ground in recent months with its compact Games plan and the promise of “real” snow while most of China’s will be machine made.

“We’ve heard the sentiment that if you do not select Almaty, then you, the IOC, can “sleep well at night” for the next seven years”, Massimov said.

Massimov said the IOC has been “brave” in the past, including by challenging apartheid in South Africa, going to Moscow for the 1980 Games at the height of the Cold War and giving the games to Beijing in 2008. “And, in each case, you were right”.

“We will deliver 100 per cent of what we promised”, said Wang Hui, spokeswoman of the Beijing 2022 bid committee. Our request is not simply based on blind faith.

“I strongly believe in the fact that Almaty 2022 and the direction of the Olympic movement will influence the human rights development in the country and I will do whatever it takes to make it happen”.

Among them is the iconic Bird’s Nest stadium and the Water Cube as well as media and broadcasting centres within Beijing’s Olympic park.

Beijing sought to counter the argument that it does not offer true Winter Games conditions. Tell us more about the latest from both camps?

China will make huge use of artificial snow and some of the venues are 200 kilometres (125 miles) from Beijing.

“Legacy is everything”, former National Basketball Association star and Beijing bid team member Yao Ming said.

China’s Sports Minister Liu Peng played down these concerns, saying ski resorts have been operating in Zhangjiakou for two decades.