There were huge celebrations in the Chinese cities that will co-host the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Friday, after the International Olympics Committee announced the Asian giant’s winning bid just seven years after China hosted the summer games.
The iconic Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing welcomed crowds once again as some 6,000 gathered to celebrate Beijing’s narrow victory over Kazakhstan in Friday's vote.
President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach announced the results at the 128th IOC session in Kuala Lumpur after both candidate cities gave an emphatic assurance of environmental protection and stated their economic goals.
Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed the decision and praised the efforts all the delegates made during the bidding process. His colleague, Liu Yunshan, added that the 2022 event will also strengthen friendships between China and the rest of the world.