By Duncan Mackay

IOC President has visited some of the facilities that would be used if Almaty wins its bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics ©IOCThomas Bach has visited Almaty to tour many of the facilities that would be used if the city's bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics is successful.


The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President was visiting the city to fulfil a long-standing invitation from the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 

But officials in Almaty did not waste the opportunity to showcase their campaign, which, along with Beijing, is one of only two bidders remaining following the withdrawal of a number of rivals. 

During his visit, which came at the end of a tour during which he also travelled to Armenia and Georgia, Bach met with the President of Kazakhstan's NOC Temirkhan Dosmukhambetov. 

He also held talks with Kazakhstan's Minister of Culture and Sports Arystanbek Muhamediuly and Almaty Mayor Akhmetzhan Yessimov.

Among the facilities Bach was shown was Medeu, which, at 1,691 metres above sea level, is the highest skating rink in the world, and Sunkar International Ski Jumping Complex.

He also visited Shymbulak, a ski resort which hosted the 2011 Asian Winter Games and would be one of the centrepieces of Almaty 2022.
 
It will also be used for the 2017 Winter Universiade, which Almaty is due to host. 

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach met the Mayor of Almaty Akhmetzhan Yessimov during his trip to Kazakhstan ©IOCInternational Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach met the Mayor of Almaty Akhmetzhan Yessimov during his trip to Kazakhstan ©IOC

"Almaty has the most developed sports infrastructure, which includes 1,077 sport facilities and 14 of them fully comply with the modern international standards," said Yessimov. 

"Two ice arenas with rinks and a multifunctional Olympic Village capable of accommodating 5,000 people will be constructed for the Winter Universiade in 2017 in Almaty.

"The Asian Winter Games in 2011 was a very important experience, which now helps us prepare for the Winter Universiade in 2017. 

"This includes work on security and logistics, management of sport facilities and training programmes for the staff."

The IOC is due to choose the host city at its Session in Kuala Lumpur on July 31, 2015. 

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