A spokesperson from the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK) told insidethegames that they will be in the running to host the 2022 Winter Games after submitting a bid earlier today.

"We have today submitted an application to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) that we will be in the race for the 2022 Games," he said.

"The final decision is not going to be taken until mid March next year.

"So what we're now doing is going with a deeper survey of the possible venues and financing of the Games and things like that."

Although the SOK has claimed that there is popular support for the campaign throughout Sweden, concerns have been raised by the Swedish Government following five previous unsuccessful bids.

This skepticism has left the Government reluctant to guarantee its financial support for the Games according to Sport Minister Lena Adelsohn. 

Stockholm played host to the Summer Olympics in 1912, the only time the Olympics has been held in Sweden



Stockholm will join Scandinavian neighbours Oslo, Almaty in Kazakhstan and Ukrainian city Lviv in the running to host the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A joint bid from China's Beijing and Zhangjiakou has also been confirmed, as well as a joint bid from Slovakia and Poland, with Krakow as the focal point.

Munich will not be submitting a bid to host the Games following defeats in all four of the referendum's in communities where events were planned to be held.

The deadline for applicant cities to submit their bids is Thursday (14 November).

The decision on who will host the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games is due to be made at the 127th IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur on July 31, 2015.

Sweden has been an Olympic host nation just once, when the 1912 Summer Olympics were held in Stockholm. 

If they are successful they would be the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

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