Yet, despite Agenda 2020 having raised the possibility of a greater number of events being moved outside of a host city to take advantage of pre-existing facilities, officials insist that all events would take place in the Almaty area, with compactness at the core of its bid. 

This comes less than two months after Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev suggested some events would be moved to Astana, the city over 1,200 kilometres to the Northwest, which he made the nation's capital, to replace Almaty, in 1997.

But, when asked here today to clarify if any changes to planned venue locations could be made, the bid's vice-president Andrey Kryukov appeared to rule out any chance of this happening.

"This is a serious question, but I can tell you straight," he said

"The Olympic concept of Almaty 2022 is all in one city.

"Only Almaty."

Kryukov admitted to insidethegames that changes had been discussed but insisted the bid is focused around the compactness provided by being in one city, and that this core theme should not be changed.

IOC Evaluation Commission chairman Alexander Zhukov (left) with Almaty Mayor Akhmetzhan Yessimov before the start of meetings this morning ©Almaty 2022




Almaty's campaign, built around the slogan "Keeping it Real", claims to be the most compact Olympic bid for 30 years, with all venues no more than 30 kilometres away from the Olympic Village. 

This was a key part of the bid team's presentation to the IOC Commission today, with Almaty officials claiming the 12-strong panel, headed by Russian Olympic Committee President Alexander Zhukov, had been impressed with this concept and particularly with the "low and efficient" budget.

Eight of the 14 venues have already been completed, requiring only renovation work before 2022, while a further three are being constructed already as part of preparations to host the 2017 Winter Universiade.

This leaves only three which would be developed from scratch: the main Olympic Village, the Sunkar Sliding Centre and the Almaty Olympic Arena in which figure skating and short track speed skating would take place.

"I can assure you our budget will be much smaller than for other Games," said Kryukov, outlining these plans.

This affordability and compactness is Almaty's main area of strength when compared with Beijing - its only remaining rival following the withdrawals of Stockholm, Kraków, Lviv and Oslo last year - whose bid is based between the capital and Zhangjiakou, 190km to the northwest.

However, legacy is also a major focus for Almaty, with the Games forming a part of the "Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy", which aims to improve the country in an economic, social and environmental sense.

Increasing opportunities for young athletes is a key legacy aim of Almaty's bid ©ITG



This latter area was one topic mentioned by Kryukov when asked what queries the IOC had raised about the bid today, with the official then explaining the efforts already underway to bring about ecological improvements, particularly with regard to using cleaner fuels. 

Environmental challenges are also being faced by Beijing, which is facing lingering problems of air pollution in the capital city.

Legacy aims were particularly demonstrated today at the Tabagan Cluster today, one of two venue areas visited by the Commission.

The Cluster includes the Tau Park Alpine venue, in which slalom and giant slalom events would take place, which in turn will form part of the new Tau Park ski resort, a major new facility aimed at increasing opportunities for the general public with 35km of slopes.

The Commission, which also includes IOC members Adam Pengilly, Barry Maister and Tsunekazu Takeda as well as eight experts focusing on specific areas, also visited the Ad Bulak Nordic Centre in which biathlon and cross country events would be held.

Built in time for the 2011 Asian Winter Games, the facility is already a major regional training hub, with plans in place to host World Cup skiing and biathlon events once the Winter Universiade has taken place in two years time.

In cold yet beautifully sunny weather, the panel were explained the concept of the venue by a group of officials including Vladimir Smirnov, the former IOC Athletes' Commission member and cross country skiing legend who seven Olympic medals across four Games, including Kazakhstan's first ever Olympic gold medal in the 50km event at Lillehammer 1994.

Officials, including Kazakhstan's first Olympic champion, skier Vladimir Smirnov (right), explain the concept of the Ak Bulak Nordic Centre ©ITG



One concern surrounding the venue is the poor surface quality of the road winding up to the facility, which stands almost 1,500 metres above sea level, but officials claimed a new and better quality road would be constructed by 2017, thus easing access.

Inspections are due to continue tomorrow, with the IOC set to visit a series of venues, including the iconic Sunkar Jumping Hills in the city centre.

Following the conclusion of the visit on Wednesday (February 18), the Commission will visit Beijing from March 24 to 28 before a final decision is scheduled to be made at the IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur on July 31. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
February 2015: Almaty 2022 hail importance for "entire region" as IOC Evaluation Commission inspection set to begin
February 2015: IOC Evaluation Commission arrive in Almaty to begin reformed 2022 inspection process
February 2015: Almaty 2022 officially launch Twitter account ahead of IOC Evaluation Commission visit
January 2015: Affordable Almaty 2022 bid will boost local economy and environmental standards, officials claim
December 2014: Kazakhstan President admits doubts over Almaty 2022 Olympic bid but now claims he backs it