Oslo, Almaty and Beijing have been confirmed as the official candidates to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, even though an International Olympic Committee report found several weaknesses in the Kazakh city's bid.
Stockholm, Krakow and Lviv had also submitted bids to the IOC but all three later withdrew.
A report assessed each city on 15 criteria, including accommodation, venues, doping control, safety and transport.
Oslo scored strongly except on public support for the games - a poll by the IOC found 36 percent support for the Games in the Norwegian capital Oslo and surrounding areas but 50 percent against.
Almaty was weak in many respects - its concept for the Olympic Village, media centre plans, "very limited" experience in holding big winter sports events, its policing, telecoms and internet policies and the environmental impact of the Games, as well as the budget.
