Moscow, July 21 (RIA Novosti) - The National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan will make a bid for Almaty, the former Kazakh capital, to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, local media announced Thursday.
Committee spokespeople were reported as saying they would tout Almaty as a new winter sports venue with plenty of untapped potential.
Almaty was first spotlighted as a potential winter Olympics host in the 1970s, when foreign sports specialists discovered the area's unique natural and climatic properties.
The registered 2014 Winter Olympics bidders include the Russian coastal city of Sochi, the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, the Caucasus spa resorts Borzhomi and Bakuriani in Georgia and Salzburg, Austria. Bids will continue to be accepted until July 28, 2005.
The city to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games will be announced in Guatemala in July of 2007.
