Masimov: IOC will make right choice if it entrusts 2022 Games to Alma-Ata

There is no risk to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in entrusting the Winter Olympic Games in 2022 to Alma-Ata, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, the Chairman of the Almaty 2022 Bid Committee, Karim Masimov, told IOC delegates meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

The delegation that presented the application includes Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov, Minister of Culture Arystanbek Muhamediuly, Almaty Mayor Akhmetzhan Yesimov,  President of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan Temirkhan Dosmukhambetov, Deputy Chairman of the Almaty 2022 Bid Committee Andrey Kryukov and Sochi 2014 figure skating bronze medalist Denis Ten.

"You will make the right choice. We ask you to have faith in us, faith in Kazakhstan. Almaty is not a risky choice for 2022. We are a golden opportunity to prove that smaller, advancing nations can successfully host the Games, which will give athletes a real winter experience competition, which they deserve, and that they will remember for the rest of their lives," TASS cited Masimov as saying.

The main advantages of the application by the representatives of Almaty-2022 are compact Olympic facilities and guaranteed availability of natural snow during the competitions.

The host city will be elected on 31 July 2015 at the IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It will choose between Beijing and Almaty.