Beijing has been chosen to host the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, beating the bid of Kazakhstan’s Almaty. Having hosted the 2008 Olympics, the Chinese capital will be the first city to host both a summer and winter Games.

Beijing and Almaty were considered no hope to win  when the 2022 bid race opened two years ago. But after a host of European cities withdrew for political or financial reasons, the Chinese bid beat Almaty by 44 votes to 40 with one abstention.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said that Beijing was awarded the Games because it fitted its new agenda for a “stronger focus on sustainability, legacy, and transparency”. Despite the IOC estimating costs for “Olympic villages, sports venues and other infrastructure” would be £962m ($1.5bn), it said Beijing “will rely heavily on existing venues, including those built for the Games in 2008”. 

The statement continued: “Thanks to an additional contribution from the IOC of approximately £564m ($880m) to support the staging of the Olympic Winter Games in 2022, Beijing is confident that it will either break even or make a profit.” The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, were estimated to have cost £31bn ($51bn), making it the most expensive Olympics in history.

The Games, which was supported by former NBA star Yao Ming, will be divided between the capital and the city of Zhangjiakou - which is 118 miles north-west of Beijing and will host the snow events. The IOC said in a statement: “Beijing aims to use the Games to accelerate the development of a new sport, culture and tourism area, and to encourage interest in winter sports in a region that is home to more than 300 million people in northern China.”

Olympic skeleton champion Lizzie Yarnold told BBC Radio 5: “The venues need to be technically excellent. They need to be Olympic standard for you to bring good performances as athletes. I really hope the IOC will make sure that things are ready for the World Cup races that will have to take place there before the Olympics.”

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1.What made European countries give up bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games?

A They felt hopeless in winning the bid two years ago.

B They had to build venues from the very beginning.

C They had either political or financial difficulties.

D They were not confident to make profits out of the Games.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据文章第二段... after a host of European cities withdrew for political or financial reasons...可知，在申办工作开始后不久，欧洲国家许多的竞选城市因为政治问题或财政问题纷纷退出。

2.What is Beijing’s advantage to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games?

A The Games will be held based on sustainability, legacy, and transparency.

B Beijing will make the most expensive Olympics in history.

C The Games will be divided between the capital and a nearby city.

D The Games will help develop a new sport, culture and tourism area.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据文章第三段...Beijing was awarded the Games because it fitted its new agenda for a “stronger focus on sustainability, legacy, and transparency”可知，北京之所以申奥成功，原因是北京市符合举办奥运会的新理念—可持续发展、遗产、透明。这是北京申办2022年冬奥会成功的优势所在。

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A Hosting the Winter Olympic Games can make great profits.

B Beijing hopes to encourage its people to go in for winter sports.

C Beijing doesn’t have to build venues for the Games in 2022.

D The venues are believed to be built with high standard.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据文章第五段... aims to use the Games ...to encourage interest in winter sports in a region...可知，北京冬奥会旨在促进国民热爱冬季运动体育项目，加快邻近地区旅游文化事业的发展。

4.What can be the best title of the passage?

A Beijing has been chosen to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games

B Strong competition to win the bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games

C Beijing has its advantage to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games

D Beijing has taken the opportunity for development

解析：选A。A 主旨大意题。通读全文可知，本文为新闻报道，介绍了中国北京获得2022年冬奥会举办权的情况。