Beijing will host the ‘22 Games after it defeated Almaty, Kazakhstan, 44-40 in secret ballot voting today at the IOC’s annual session in Malaysia. Beijing becomes the first city to host both a Summer and Winter Games, overcoming doubts about its climate to sway the IOC. Much of its plans rely on extensive artificial snow manufacturing. However, the city successfully pitched itself as a predictable, safe choice that can easily host major events. The vote was closer than most experts had expected. “I think this close vote is actually a good thing, and I think we need to learn from Almaty to improve our own bid," said Chinese Olympic Committee President Liu Peng.

During their final presentation to the IOC members, Beijing officials pledged to tackle a $130B plan to mitigate air pollution and stressed the economic opportunity provided by hosting the Games in the world's second largest economy and biggest population. The successful Chinese contingent included former NBAer Yao Ming, Chinese IOC member Yu Zaiqing, Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun and Vice Premier Liu Yandong.

The IOC has embraced an Asian tone recently, with the ‘18 PyeongChang and ’20 Tokyo Games slated for cities within 1,300 miles of each other.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman today will face a legal deposition in N.Y. “as part of an ongoing concussion lawsuit against the NHL.” Bettman is expected to face questions about the ongoing litigation “alleging the league was reckless and negligent about informing players on the risks of long-term damage as a result of head injuries.” Bettman will likely be questioned about what the NHL is “doing for former players who are suffering health consequences from their playing days” and “what the league discovered and disclosed while conducting internal research on the concussion issue” (ESPN.com, 7/30).

Attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who the NFLPA has retained to represent Patriots QB Tom Brady at his appeal hearing, said that the union today "will be filing a specific motion for an injunction" to allow Brady to play until the case is final. The union will also be "making some technical revisions to Wednesday's 54-page filing to allow for the change in court circuits" from Minnesota to New York (ESPN.com, 7/30). 

Meanwhile, Judge Richard Berman, who has been assigned the NFLPA's appeal of Brady's suspension, ordered the NFL and the union to "tone down their rhetoric" and try to resolve their differences without litigation. Berman: “The earth is already sufficiently scorched” (NYDAILYNEWS,.com 7/30).

Donald Trump this morning was scheduled to leave the Women’s British Open, which is being played at Trump Turnberry in Scotland. Trump yesterday indicated that LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan “called him recently and apologized” for talking about possibly moving the tournament amid the fallout from comments Trump has made on the presidential campaign trail. Trump also “spoke about the possibility” about the WGC-Cadillac Championship being “moved away from Doral,” another course he owns. He indicated that “can’t happen,” as he “has a watertight contract” (Golf Channel, 7/30).

MLS today will announce that season-ticket holders will have their images printed within the numbers on the back of player jerseys. Each club made the initiative available to select season-ticket holders who used a portal on the team’s website. The teams will wear the special jerseys during all regular-season games in the month of August. Fans will have the opportunity to customize jerseys and merchandise with the special numbers at each club’s official store. MLS is the first league to utilize the platform, which is provided by Playing2 (THE DAILY).

BuzzFeed and Vox Media are “close to striking hefty investment deals” with NBCUniversal that value BuzzFeed at $1.5B and Vox at $850M. NBCU plans to invest $250M in BuzzFeed and "an undisclosed amount in Vox," whose portfolio includes SB Nation. The talks are “at an advanced stage but no deals have yet been signed” (FT.com, 7/30).

A hearing originally scheduled for today in S.F. on a motion by Ticketmaster and the Warriors to dismiss the antitrust lawsuit filed against them by StubHub will now be held on Oct. 16. StubHub recently filed an amended complaint against the pair, creating a more elongated court schedule. StubHub continues to allege the Warriors and Ticketmaster are unlawfully forcing the team’s season-ticket holders to exclusively use the Ticketmaster-powered Team Exchange for ticket resale.

Shares of WWE surged 17.5% yesterday “on the news that the WWE Network ended the second-quarter” with 1.2 million subscribers, an increase of 75% from a year ago (N.Y. POST, 7/31).

The Dolphins today will announce a deal making ESPN Deportes the team’s “new Spanish radio rights-holder, replacing Univision” (MIAMI HERALD, 7/31).

The IOC awarded Lausanne, Switzerland with the ‘20 Winter Youth Olympics, beating Brasov, Romania. Lillehammer, Norway, will host the ’16 Winter Youth Olympics (AP, 7/31).

“We went the two weeks going into the Super Bowl, all we talked about was Deflategate. Now coming into training camp, it is all we are talking about” – NFL Giants President & CEO John Mara, on being upset the deflated football scandal is still in the headlines six months after the alleged infraction (NEWSDAY, 7/31).

“It’s more important we make the experience as interactive as possible” – Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott, on the conference this football season showing replays available to officials reviewing the play on stadium scoreboards (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/30).

“Boston is a very lucrative market and we’re interested. We’re open to anything, but it seems like a stretch to get it done immediately” – Stronach Group COO Tim Ritvo, on having an interest in acquiring the shuttered Suffolk Downs (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/31).

“I wanted to go out and do this and promote the game and present the game to the kids, to get them more interested and grow the game” – Baseball HOFer Cal Ripken Jr., on MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred focusing on growing youth participation in baseball (Baltimore SUN, 7/31).

Without that (false) report, this whole thing is a non-story. Everything spiraled out of control from there. http://t.co/6ivsvHCEZY

— Scott Fujita (@sfujita55) July 31, 2015

Feel bad for Mort. Multiple high-level sources gave him info. They were wrong, not him. Probably should seek to correct the record, though

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) July 31, 2015

.@KySpeedway GM tells Lexington newspaper an #IndyCar race won't be held til after repaving. Then they'll see about biz plan.

— Curt Cavin (@curtcavin) July 30, 2015

It's a BIG day here at @poconoraceway. We're unveiling The Trackside Superstore! pic.twitter.com/G8M8TBfbvN

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 31, 2015

USA TODAY writes of MWR co-Owner Rob Kauffman buying a stake in Chip Ganassi Racing: “With an apparent dearth of glitzy driver moves ahead … Kauffman’s move could ultimately be the one that makes this Silly Season matter.”

NATIONAL POST looks at Jen Welter and Becky Hammon taking coaching positions in men’s sports and wonders if “this could be a watershed moment for women in sports.”

Also:

• How “gawky” tennis player Stan Smith became a fashion icon.
• What can the city of Boston salvage from the Olympic bid?
• Similarities, differences between covering sports and politics.
• NBA helping grow basketball in Africa with grassroots efforts.
• Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello seen as “once-in-a-generation” hockey mind.

Last night’s 11:00pm ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with an update on Angels-Astros, followed by Royals-Blue Jays, the Blue Jays acquiring Tigers P David Price in a trade and Tigers-Orioles. The first non-MLB report was the suspension of Tom Brady 12 minutes onto the broadcast. Last night’s 11:00pm ET edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with the acquisition of Price, followed by Tigers-Orioles, the Pirates trading for Tigers P Joakim Soria and Royals-Blue Jays. The first non-MLB report was Ohio State suspending several football players for the first game next season eight minutes into the telecast.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Major League Baseball.”

“This Major League team’s official colors are sedona red, sonoran sand and black.”

“Who are the D’Backs?”