Beijing this morning beat Almaty 44-40 in the IOC vote to win the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Reports indicated that Beijing secured the right to host the Winter Olympics Game after Chinese president, Xi Jinping, made a last-minute vow to lay on a “fantastic, extraordinary and excellent” event.

International Olympic President Thomas Bach confirmed Beijing, which hosted the Summer Games in 2008, had been chosen ahead of Almaty in Kazakshtan at the 128th IOC session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“We are honoured and humbled by the International Olympic Committee’s decision to award Beijing the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” Beijing’s bid committee said in a statement, adding:

“It is with an incredible sense of excitement that we express our thanks to the IOC and the wider Olympic movement. Just as with the Beijing 2008 Summer Games, the Olympic family has put its faith in Beijing again to deliver the athlete-centred, sustainable and economical Games we have promised.

“This will be a memorable event at the foot of the Great Wall for the whole Olympic family, the athletes and the spectators that will further enhance the tremendous potential to grow winter sports in our country, in Asia and around the world. We would like to congratulate Almaty 2022 for their campaign. We wish to thank once again all the Chinese people and people around the world who have supported Beijing 2022 in this extraordinary bid journey.”

With this victory, Beijing is set to become the first city to have hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

•Photo shows Beijing delegates rejoicing after the announcement was made . . . this morning in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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