It means Lviv, which is located in western Ukraine, about 100 miles from the Carpathian Mountains, will become the second candidate to confirm that they will bid, following Kazakhstan's largest city Almaty, which declared in August.

Cities have to declare their interest in bidding to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by November 14. 

"This is a great opportunity and a huge responsibility for our city," said Andriy Sadovyy, Lviv's Mayor. 

"Now we need to put a lot of effort into preparing a high quality bid to the IOC.

"It is a long journey ahead of us, but I am confident that with joint hard work and dedication, as well as with the help from international experts who have worked for previous strong bids, we will deliver a successful application to the IOC."

Lviv's bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics will centre on the Carpathian Mountains

Vilkul claimed that the country is united behind the bid.

"Staging the Games means new opportunities in development, investment and will create new jobs in Lviv and the Carpathian region," he said.

"We are pursuing Ukraine's Olympic dream which will unite our country."

Lviv's bid had previously received unanimous support Ukraine's Council of Regions at a meeting chaired by Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's President. 

"This is a national priority project and the whole of Ukraine will join efforts behind our bid," said Sergey Bubka, President of the NOCU.

"We are going to put this decision to a vote at the NOC General Assembly annual session on 5 November in Kkev prior to submitting a declaration to the IOC."

Besides Lviv and Almaty, there are also expected to be bids from Munich and Oslo.

There is also to be a joint bid from Poland and Slovakia centrred on Krakow.

Lviv successfully hosted three matches during Euro 2012, including Germany against Denmark

Ukraine had co-hosted the 2012 UEFA European Championships with Poland when Lviv hosted three matches in Group B, including two matches involving Germany.

Lviv was formerly part of the Kingdom of Poland until 1772 when it became occupied by the Austrian Empire until 1918.

After World War One, from 1918 till invasion in 1939 by the Soviet Union the city was the capital of Lwów Voivodeship of the Second Polish Republic.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the city of Lviv remained a part of the now independent Ukraine, for which it currently serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast,

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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