Beijing has been selected to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, becoming the first city awarded both the winter and summer Games.

Beijing defeated Almaty, Kazakhstan, in a vote.

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The voting numbers were not immediately released.

The Chinese capital, which hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics, came in as the favorite.

Despite a lack of natural snow and winter conditions, Beijing was seen by the IOC as a reliable and safe choice.

Almaty had hoped to bring the games to Central Asia for the first time and raise Kazakhstan’s profile on the international stage.