ID :
375599
Wed, 07/29/2015 - 09:42
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Almaty Bids To Host Winter Olympics By 'Keeping It Real'

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- Nature plays an integral part in Almaty's bid to be voted as host for the next Winter Olympic Games in 2022. Banking on the slogan, 'Keeping it Real', Almaty emphasised on its natural snow and compactness, and location of most of the Games venues "which are within reach in half an hour". "We are a real sports city, a real winter city. We don't like to change the city but keep it as it is," Almaty 2022 vice chairman and bid leader, Andrey Kryukov told the press here, Wednesday. For Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, this would mean taking venues from its Soviet Union sporting past, fixing them up and adding some Olympic glamour. "Hosting experience is crucial for the successful operation of a Winter Games and Kazakhstan has a significant history to support that," said Kryukov. For the record, the city hosted the Asian Winter Games in 2011, World University Speed Skating Championships in 2014, 2015 FIS Junior Nordic World Championship U-23, 2010-2014 FIS Ski Jump Grand Prix and 2010-2012 FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup. Almaty has also been selected to host the Winter Universiade on Jan 28-Feb 8, 2017. --BERNAMA

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