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

The IOC took other steps to make the 2022 candidates' life easier. To reduce the cost and complexity of site visits by the IOC's Evaluation Commission, the IOC paid for the costs related to these visits, including the installation and set-up of meeting rooms in both cities. The Evaluation Commission took a collaborative approach encouraging an open discussion of how the Games can be staged in a more sustainable and feasible way, rather than an examination.

The Olympic Agenda 2020 brought more transparency to the process. For the first time, the Evaluation Commission's report included an explicit assessment of the opportunities and risks in both cities. This change not only helped IOC members make their choice, it also provided clear guidance to the candidate cities on ways to strengthen their bids. The full evaluation report was publicly released on June 1 and welcomed by both candidate cities. The information will be useful not only for the winning candidate city but also for the other city for future candidatures or organizing other major sporting events.

The Olympic Agenda 2020 sends a strong message that the IOC embraces diversity in selecting a host city. Diversity is part of the magic of the Games. It is also essential to safeguard the unity of the Olympic Movement by ensuring that the host respects Olympic values.

The Olympic Agenda 2020 addressed this need by putting additional emphasis on issues related to human rights. In response to this guidance, the IOC Evaluation Commission considered the views of independent non-governmental organizations with respect to human rights, labor rights, media freedom and the environment in assessing the two Games bids.

The Evaluation Commission raised these issues with the governments and local authorities of both bid teams and sought and received assurances that the principles of the Olympic Charter and the Host City Contract will be respected in the context of the Games. This includes assurances on non-discrimination, as well as Internet access, media freedom, labor rights and the right to demonstrate during the Games.

At the same time, the IOC acknowledges that outside of the Games time it must respect the laws of sovereign states. It is not a world government.

The Evaluation Commission concluded that both Almaty and Beijing are capable of hosting successful Games. I cannot predict the winner. What I can say with certainty is that watching in the audience will be representatives from several countries and their national Olympic committees seeking to host the 2024 Summer Games - a list that already includes France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and the United States, with candidates from other countries also considering a bid. This will open a new chapter with cities receiving the full benefits of the Olympic Agenda 2020, with even more flexibility to deliver Olympic Games that meet their needs as well as providing a global stage for the world's best athletes.

For all these reasons, I am looking forward with great anticipation to the opening of that Olympic envelope later today.

The author is president of the International Olympic Committee.