ALMATY – International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach called Almaty and Kazakhstan’s application to host the 2022 Winter Olympics “very solid and competitive” during an Oct. 11-12 visit to Almaty’s sports complexes.
Bach visited the Medeo mountain skating rink, Chimbulak ski slopes and jumps complex.
Bach told a press conference during his visit that the IOC highly praises the “original bid of Almaty,” which is based on use of existing sports infrastructure and the rich sports heritage of Kazakhstan.
“With all this infrastructure and rich sport traditions, the Almaty candidacy looks strong,” he added.
He also called the success of Kazakh athletes at the 2012 summer games a “breakthrough.”
The IOC president also touched upon a very timely question on behalf of the Kazakh Sports Press Association (SPA) concerning the extension of quotas for accreditation of domestic journalists covering the Olympic Games. Kazakhstan’s Olympic achievements allow for this and Bach promised to study this question.
The highlight of the IOC president’s visit was his participation in the ceremony of “tusau kesu,” the Kazakh tradition marking the beginning of a child’s new stage in life. Bach cut the binds of one-and-a half year-old Altair Omarov and wished him a bright Olympic future.
