Delivering Success: Engagement, Legacy and Vision Olympic Winter Games 2026 Case Study Almaty 2022 Following the new, more 昀氀exible approach of Olympic Agenda 2020, Almaty worked closely with the IOC to produce a candidature closely aligned with the long- term development goals of the city and country. Its aim was to change perceptions of Kazakhstan and turn the region into a winter sports hub. The candidature was the centrepiece of an those [cities] which organises multi-sport ambitious strategy to raise the country’s pro昀椀le events at international level”, demonstrating by hosting major events and develop an how bidding for the Games has continued to expanded winter sports industry in addition help develop the country’s long-term goals. to its traditional energy-based economy. Aydar Makhmetov, a spokesman for the country’s sovereign wealth fund who was involved in the candidature, claimed that the bid “would forever By bidding for the Winter Games 昀椀x Almaty on the world map and be a powerful we showed the world the amazing impulse for the development not just of the city, but of all Kazakhstan. This is a goal that can unite progress that Kazakhstan has made the entire nation in a single patriotic impulse”. since its independence. While the bid ultimately lost out to Beijing as Andrey Kryukov host city for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Vice-Chairman of Almaty Candidature Committee it was successful in bringing a new pro昀椀le to the city and delivering regional and national strategic aims. By placing the city at the forefront of the global sport conversation, the candidature has set up Almaty to be a regular host of winter sports events in the future. International University Sports Federation (FISU) President Oleg Matytsin commented: “I believe that in future, Almaty will be among Enhancing Reputation 7