Vote on Winter Games host a 'first' and a 'last'

When I open the famous envelope to reveal the name of the host city for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games on Friday, I will be as curious as everyone watching. No one can say who will win but we can be confident that the decision will have a lasting impact on one of two very different cities: Almaty in Kazakhstan, and Beijing in China.

Either choice by the International Olympic Committee would be an Olympic "first". Beijing would become the first city to host the Summer and Winter Olympics. Almaty would become the first Olympic host in its region.

The IOC's decision will also be an Olympic "last". Almaty and Beijing will be the last candidate cities that started the bid process before the IOC approved the Olympic Agenda 2020, a reform package that significantly changed the host city selection process. The changes put a stronger focus on sustainability, legacy and transparency, and make it easier for host cities to tailor the Games according to their needs rather than trying to fit a template.