Chinese state-run media said Tuesday that Beijing "will bid to hold the 2022 Winter Games," according to the AFP. China's Olympic Committee has "in the name of Beijing city, applied to the International Olympic Committee" to host the Games. The application says that "ice sports would be held in Beijing, while snow events would take place in the city of Zhangjiakou, in the neighbouring province of Hebei" (AFP, 11/5). REUTERS' Michael Martina wrote Zhangjiakou, in Hebei province about 200km northwest of Beijing, "has been proposed for snow sports while the capital would host ice events." Construction on a railway linking the two cities "will begin late this year" (REUTERS, 11/5). XINHUA's Ma Xiangfei wrote Beijing Sports Bureau Chief Li Yingchuan admitted that "Beijing has its only weak point, which is pollution." Li said, "But the government has already started to tackle the problem. I believe in 10 years the situation will be much better." Li said Beijing's chances "would be affected by the fact that PyeongChang of South Korea is to host the 2018 Winter Games." Li: "There is a rotation rule, though unwritten, in the bid. Since PyeongChang won the 2018 bid, Beijing as another Asian city will face a daunting task to beat the odds" (XINHUA, 11/5).
UKRAINE'S BID: REUTERS reported Lviv, Ukraine, on Tuesday "launched a bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in the Carpathian mountains, seeking to become the first East European nation apart from Russia to stage the Games." Ukraine Deputy PM Oleksandr Vilkul said that "a successful bid would be a major boost for the country’s tourism and sports industry." The declaration was signed by Mayor Andriy Sadovyy and head of the national Olympic committee Sergey Bubka. Bubka, a former Olympic pole vault champion, said that "the decision to bid was proof of Ukraine’s sports revival." Bubka: "Ten years ago I could not imagine that I would witness a Ukrainian bid to host the (Olympics)" (REUTERS, 11/5).
