National Olympic Committee (NOC) SecretaryGeneral Timur Dosymbetov unveiled on July 3 the official website for Kazakhstan’s effort to win the right to host the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Almaty.
The website is meant to make people aware of the Games and its facilities, should Almaty win in its bid. It includes location descriptions, city maps and information about upcoming events.
“The launch of the website is an [important] step for us all as it [facilitates the next step] — bringing Almaty and Kazakhstan in general to the world,” explained Dosymbetov. “Despite the fact that our country is very young, we have our traditions preserved throughout history to lead winter sport games like other countries that are also developing winter sports.”
“Few people know that Chimbulak (popular ski resort in Kazakhstan) was first opened in 1954 and already in 1962 the resort welcomed international guests to participate in ski competitions,” he continued. “Chimbulak will become the area for all high-mountain competitions in 2022.In 1951, Medeo, which is now known as one of the best high-mountain and high-speed icerinks in the world, was chosen to lead the first skating competition held in Almaty. We also constructed a springboard diving complex four years ago that is now successfully operating. I can say that we are developing permanently, step by step. After the Asian Winter Games in 2011, the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games is a great honour for us and a main long-term goal.”
The website, http://almaty-2022.org, also allows the public to provide input about Kazakhstan’s effort to host the Games.
In related news, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on July 7 that Almaty, Beijing and Oslo, were chosen as the three finalists to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.
“The Executive Board was impressed by the legacy plans of each of the three cities, and will continue to support any future candidate or host city in developing them further,” Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, said in a statement on IOC website.
The decision on the host city for the 2022 Winter Olympics is expected in the summer of 2015.
