Battle for 2022 Winter Games bid serious, IAAF remind China

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) vice president and pole vault legend Sergey Bubka has said that China should be highly prepared for serious battle in the 2022 Winter Olympics bid.

Bubka, six-time former pole vault world champion, will visit China for the upcoming Athletics Asian Championships, which kicks off on June 3 in Wuhan, reports Xinhua.

"You don't lose till if you have even one attempt in reserve. Therefore, Beijing has this attempt and has the chance to win as well as the other city. You must believe and be highly prepared for very serious battle," the 51-year-old said on Saturday.

Bubka, who still holds the world record of 6.14 metres set in 1994, expressed his trust for China to host major events.

"China has already established its reputation as a country which has hosted major international sports events at the highest level. The best example is the successful Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008," the Russian said.

"For sure, China is much more experienced in conducting summer sports competitions but everything has its beginning. Both cities bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympics are strong candidates and each of them has strengths and weaknesses," the Olympic champion in 1988 added.

Beijing will co-host the Games with Zhangjiakou, a city of Hebei province some 200 km northwest to the Chinese capital, if it wins the bid. Almaty, Kazakhstan, is the other candidate city vying for the event.

The IOC will select the host city on July 31 in Kuala Lumpur.