Almaty Seeking Momentum in Race for 2022 Olympics

(ATR) Kazakhstan’s most decorated Winter Olympian says he is hopeful about Almaty’s chances to host the Winter Games, whether it be in 2022 or four years later for 2026.

Former Olympic cross-country skier Vladimir Smirnov spoke to Around the Rings at the recent International Ski Federation (FIS) Congress in Barcelona, where the central Asian city faltered in its bid to obtain the 2019 FIS Nordic World Championships.

"I feel that, for sure, our candidacy for 2022 is absolutely the best one," Smirnov told ATR. "We know what happened with our competition bidding for 2022, and suddenly we see that Almaty is probably one of the strongest ones in this application."

On July 6-7 at the IOC Executive Board meetings in Lausanne, Almaty, along with rival candidates Beijing; Oslo; and Lviv, Ukraine, aim to be accepted on a shortlist for 2022.

"We have an excellent chance, but naturally in the next period we probably have even a better chance," Smirnov said, also referring to the race for 2026. "Both of them are quite important to us."

Smirnov – an eight-time Olympic medalist – won Kazakhstan’s first and only Winter Olympic gold medal as an independent nation, claiming gold at the 50km classic in Lillehammer 1994.

Kazakhstan continues to strengthen its international winter sports resume, having hosted the 2011 Asian Winter Games with plans to host the 2015 World Junior Nordic Championships and 2017 Winter Universiade.

Almaty, in the heart of Eurasia at the foot of the Tien Shan Mountains, is Kazakhstan’s largest city with a population of nearly two million. Its geographic location linking eastern and western cultures, the city has a developed infrastructure, stable economy, and natural beauty with its neighboring mountains a short drive away.

Smirnov noted that Kazakhstan is currently the 19th largest country in the world and the seventh richest.

"We have both space and a stable economic situation," said the 50-year-old skier. "Winter sport is quite natural for Almaty, and we have a lot of snow."

Almaty 2022 is proposing a compact, efficient, and cost-friendly Games.

Almaty’s Venues

According to the Almaty bid application submitted to the IOC in March, it projected that only four new venues would need to be constructed, with eight already existing, although some needing to be refurbished.

All venues are proposed to be within a 35-kilometer radius.

Smirnov advised that Almaty’s adjacent mountains and its current resorts would be ideal to contest all alpine events.

"In the southern part of Kazakhstan where Almaty is situated, we have very high mountains - up to 7,000 meters - and closer to the city, they are up to 4,000 meters," Smirnov said. "We have very good resorts with Shymbulak for alpine events and Ak-Bulak, just 30 kilometers away, would have cross-country, freestyle, and snowboarding."

The modern "Sunkar" ski jumping complex is the newest of the proposed venues, constructed for the 2011 Asian Winter Games.

Smirnov said that the Medeo speed skating stadium was once one of the world’s premier venues as part of the former Soviet Union and would only need to be renovated.

A bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge track would need to be built.

The heart of the Almaty 2022 concept would be a new Olympic Park in the northeast part of the city, which would be the site for figure skating, ice hockey, hotels, and the media village. It would be situated just 10 minutes from the international airport.

Support for a Low Cost Olympics

Smirnov surmised that the cost for Almaty to host the Games would fall between $3 billion and $5 billion.

"If you are looking for tourism, accommodations, or a transport system, everything is in place," Smirnov advised. "We do not need to put in a lot of investment to improve the infrastructure."

Smirnov led the bid for Almaty to garner the 2014 Games. However, he is not currently involved in the 2022 bid.

In May, Almaty 2022 signed a memorandum of understanding with the city of Almaty, the country’s national Olympic and Paralympic committees, all the national winter sports federations, and the agency of physical culture and sport.

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has led the central Asian country since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, has professed that "Kazakhstan is very serious about winning the right to host the Games."

Smirnov hopes to play an integral role in Almaty’s continuing campaign to secure the Games.

"I am very optimistic; I have been representing Kazakhstan for many years as a skier and with the 2014 bid," Smirnov said.

"I really hope that I will also be a part of the bids for 2022 and 2026 and can help in any way," Smirnov said. "My heart is inside the Olympics."

The 2022 host city will be selected by the IOC on July 31, 2015 in Kuala Lumpur.

Written by Brian Pinelli

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