Beijing's success in its bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games was welcomed by rival city Almaty of Kazakhstan and members and guests of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
IOC members voted 44-40 in favor of China's capital to make Beijing the only city in history to host both winter and summer Olympics.
"Beijing, China is our good friend, and we feel very happy that Beijing won today. Congratulations!" said Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim Massimov after the IOC session.
"I'm very happy for Beijing. I think they did a great job. They've shown they can host [the] Olympic Games," said Jessica Frederiks, an IOC guest who witnessed the announcement of the winning city.
"(I'm) excited because this is a new legacy for us in Asia, that the first city ever in the Olympic movement will host the summer and the winter Games," said Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, president of the Olympic Council of Asia.
Beijing will co-host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games with neighboring city Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province.
Of the six venues proposed for Beijing, including the iconic National Stadium (nicknamed the "Bird's Nest") and National Aquatics Center (also known as the "Water Cube"), five already exist. Only one new venue, for speed-skating, will be built in central Beijing.
IOC guest Wilson said the reasons for Beijing's win were the existing facilities, the security and the economy.
IOC members say hosting the Games in Beijing will strongly promote the popularity of winter sports throughout Asia and even Africa.
"My colleagues all said there are no winter sports not only in Hong Kong but also in much of Africa and Asia. So, if the Winter Olympics is held in Beijing, it will greatly promote the development of winter sports in these areas," said Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, IOC member from Hong Kong.
"Actually, the competition was quite fierce. But, with its first-rate social and economic development, as well as its achievements in sport, China has convinced a majority of IOC members that Beijing will be a reliable host of the 2022 Winter Olympics," said Huang Huikang, People's Republic of China Ambassador to Malaysia.
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