GamesBids.com: Almaty Considers 2018 Winter Games Bid

Almaty Considers 2018 Winter Games Bid
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GB Staff on Friday, October 3, 2008  11:51am EDT
 
Although Almaty's bid for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games failed to make the
International Olympic Committee's (IOC) shortlist, the largest city in
Kazakhstan is now considering a bid for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
Vladimir Smirnov, deputy head of the national ski federation, said an official
bid from Almaty will go ahead if the government lends its support, reports the
Associated Press.
Almaty is hosting the 2011 Asian Winter Games with the capital city of Astana
and is now rebuilding its Medeu ice-skating rink and the Shymbulak ski resort in
preparation for the Asian Games.
Smirnov said the Shymbulak complex will play a key role in any prospective
Olympic bid. He said, "by 2015 Shymbulak should become one of the world's ten
largest ski resorts".
The IOC is selecting the 2018 host city in 2011.