Intro:

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach says it will be 'difficult' to decide whether Almaty in Kazakhstan or the capital of China, Beijing, should stage the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Friday's vote.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English) Thomas Bach, IOC (International Olympic Committee) President:(Q: What are the key issues in deciding the host city for the 2022 Winter Olympics)

"The Key issue is to deliver a great games, for the athletes and that means having an offer which offers a great conditions in the sport facilities but also to have a project which addresses the issues of Olympic agenda 2020, that means to have sustainable and feasible Olympic Games and this is what both Beijing and Almaty are offering this is why my IOC colleagues will have to take a very difficult decision."

SOUNDBITE (English) Thomas Bach, IOC (International Olympic Council) President:(Q: Your comments on the American indecision for its 2024 bid)

"We are in contact with the United States Olympic committee and it will be and what we see is that this commitment is about an American bid. Then it's up to the United States Olympic committee to choose the city which this American candidature represents."