(ATR) IOC president Thomas Bach has seen for himself some of the sports facilities that would be used at the Almaty Winter Olympics--if the city secures the 2022 Games.
Bach toured winter sports facilities in the city this weekend. The German met with Temirkhan Dosmukhambetov, president of Kazakhstan's NOC, sports minister Arystanbek Muhamediuly and Almaty mayor Akhmetzhan Yessimov on his brief stay – he arrived Saturday evening and left Sunday lunchtime.
"The president was able to discuss the country's sports plan and how sport has been integrated into the country's long term development plans," the IOC said in a press release.
"Many of the venues including the Medeo Alpine Ice Arena, Chymbulak Alpine ski resort, the ski jumping complex, and the biathlon and cross-country ski complex are part of Almaty’s bid to host the 2022 Olympic Winter Games."
The IOC chief also met Kazakh Olympians and congratulated them on their performance at the London 2012 Olympics, Sochi 2014, Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics and Incheon Asian Games.
According to Tengrinews, the mayor told Bach that Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbayev was investing in the development of sports and promotion of healthy lifestyle. Of the city’s 1.5 million people, one quarter are said to do sports on a regular basis.
"Almaty has the most developed sports infrastructure, which includes 1,077 sport facilities and 14 of them fully comply with the modern international standards. Two ice arenas with rinks and a multifunctional Olympic village capable of accommodating 5,000 people will be constructed for the Winter Universiade in 2017 in Almaty," Yessimov was quoted as saying.
He said Almaty’s experience of hosting the 2011 Asian Winter Games was aiding preparations for the 2017 Winter Universiade.
Almaty 2022 did little to publicize the event before Bach’s visit and has not issued any press release following the trip.
Almaty faces competition from Beijing for hosting rights to the 2022 Games.
Bach’s visit to Kazakhstan wrapped up a three-country tour last week which included stops in Armenia and Georgia.
Reported by Mark Bisson.
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