Did the IOC Just Tip its Hand to the Winning Host of the 2022 Winter Olympics?

Did the IOC just tip its hand about the selection of the 2022 Winter Olympics host?

Reforms to the bidding process announced by the IOC last week pave the way for multi-country hosting for future games, and with Beijing and Almaty the only two cities left even interested in hosting, perhaps this paves the way for them both to get a piece of the action.

The IOC has been getting a lot of bad press recently as fewer and fewer cities around the world are interested in the ever-escalating cost of hosting. Few recent games hosts have seen little lasting economic benefit, and the issue came to an embarrassing head with the 2022 bidding, which started with six enthusiastic host cities and since has dwindled to two.

The IOC report's most noticeable changes are to endorse multi-country bids and to emphasize sustainable development, an obvious reference to the myriad purpose-built Olympic venues that often are massively underused after the games conclude.

The report also contains specific language that says the changes are applicable to the 2022 hosting, which is the next in line to be decided: a choice is scheduled to be made on July 31, 2015.

However, the IOC reiterated that the changes do not reopen the bidding for 2022. IOC President Thomas Bach told reporters earlier this month that the decision is still down to Beijing or Almaty ... or maybe both.

A China/Kazakhstan cohosting is not as far-fetched as it seems: The two share a large border and ancient Silk Road connects the two countries (providing a neat theme – I can see the Marco Polo-on-skis mascot already). They also have a lot to benefit from one another: China covets Kazakhstan's natural resources and Kazakhstan could use some of China's break-neck, infrastructure-building acumen.

In fact just this week the two countries finished discussing details of a "Silk Road Economic Belt," with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visting Kazakhstan to ink an agreement covering border cooperation, mineral exploitation, currency exchange, and nuclear power. 

We told you back in February we think Beijing's got these games wrapped up, and the IOC's new regulations convince us that if not hosting the games outright, Beijing's certain to be part of the mix. So plan your parties now folks, as come July 31 of next year, we're gonna party like its 2008.

Images: China News, Wikipedia