Chinese Official Downplays Beijing as 2022 Favorite

(ATR) A former vice president of the Chinese Olympic Committee and Beijing 2022 bid adviser says the Winter Olympic race is a toss-up.

Despite Beijing being seen by some as a heavy favorite over Almaty to host the 2022 Olympics, Wei Jizhong says the IOC could go either way.

"I think it’s 50-50 against Kazakhstan’s Almaty," Wei,who preceded Ary Graca as head of the International Federation of Volleyball (FIVB),told Xinhua.

"Both cities have the capability to host the Games. And the question is, which city is more suitable for the 2022 Winter Games?

"When the evaluation team comes [in March], the most important thing is not to make mistakes."

A fellow countryman of Wei was more upbeat.

"Beijing has an advantage, or experience, that any other cities don’t," said former IOC member Lu Shengrong.

Lu then pointed out that the communication and cooperation between the IOC and the Beijing organizing committee leading up to the 2008 Olympics was the "smoothest" in Olympic history.

Fresh off its visit to Almaty last week, the IOC evaluation commission will be in Beijing from March 24 to 28.

The 2022 Winter Olympics host will be named on July 31 at the IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur.

Written by Nick Devlin

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