The IOC have announced that the 2022 Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing, China.
In a secret ballot held earlier today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, The IOC committee – the people in charge of all things Olympic – the nod was given to Beijing, beating off Alamaty in Kazakhstan – the only other city remaining in the race to host the five ringed circus.
Prior to the ballot, Chinese president Xi Jinping addressed the committee in a minute long video, promising the “strongest support” for the Beijing games, adding “if you choose Beijing the Chinese people will present to the world a fantastic, extraordinary and excellent Olympic Winter Games in Beijing”
It’s thought that one of the largest factors in Beijing wining the bid is the promise from China that they will tackle the constant cloud of toxic pollution that hangs over the city.
The entire process of awarding the 2022 Winter games has ben shrouded in controversy. Originally, six cities were in the running, including Krakow in Poland, Lviv in Ukraine, Stockholm in Sweden and Oslo in Norway. However, these four pulled out due to “lack of public or political support”.
Further concerns about success of the games has been aired because of the timing of the 2022 Football World Cup. Footballs Governing body FIFA have suggested that their own four week tournament be held at the same time as the winter games, meaning snowboarding and skiing would once again play second fiddle to 22 overpaid baby-men kicking a ball around.