Beijing in 2022
In a 44-40 ballot victory Friday against Almaty, Kazakhstan, Beijing will be the host of the 2022 Winter Olympics, becoming the first city in more than 120 years of Olympic history to hold a summer and winter games.
Beijing was seen by the IOC as a secure, reliable choice that also offered vast commercial opportunities in a new winter sports market of more than 300 million people in northern China.
“It really is a safe choice,” IOC president Thomas Bach said. “We know China will deliver on its promises.”
Like before and after the city was awarded the 2008 Summer Olympics, watchdog groups were very critical.
“The IOC has sent the wrong message to the wrong people at the wrong time,” the International Tibet Network said in a statement. “China wants the world to ignore its deteriorating human rights and be impressed by Chinese can-do pragmatism instead.”
“The Olympic motto of ‘higher, faster, and stronger’ is a perfect description of the Chinese government’s assault on civil society: more peaceful activists detained in record time, subject to far harsher treatment,” said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch.
Pro basketball
The Sacramento Kings hired Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman to their coaching staff. She oins Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Spurs as another female NBA assistant coach. … The Denver Nuggets signed top pick Emmanuel Mudiay to a multiyear deal. … The Golden State Warriors acquired forward/center Jason Thompson from the Philadelphia 76ers for forward Gerald Wallace, the player they had just received from the Boston Celtics in the David Lee deal. The deal also gives Philadelphia cash and draft considerations. … The Dallas Mavericks signed free-agent forward Jeremy Evans. … Indiana Pacers newcomer Jordan Hill was arrested near Atlanta on charges of reckless driving and speeding after police clocked his car going 107 mph in a 65 mph zone.
• Forward Candace Parker scored 31 points to lead the visiting Los Angeles Sparks, 88-77, against the Chicago Sky in WNBA action. … Center Kia Vaughn scored all 15 of her points in a decisive first half, and the visiting Washington Mystics beat the San Antonio Stars, 88-53. … Forward Maya Moore scored 21 points to help the Minnesota Lynx cruise to an 86-70 victory over the visiting Atlanta Dream. … Forward Shekinna Stricklen scored off a rebound with 8.2 seconds left to give the Connecticut Sun 67-66 victory against the visiting Seattle Storm.
Hockey
Logan Bittle was promoted to associate head coach on the Robert Morris women’s staff for the 2015-16 season.
• Forward Marcus Johansson agreed to a $3.75 million, one-year contract with the Washington Capitals. … The Arizona Coyotes added Claude Loiselle as a hockey operations consultant.
Tennis
Serena Williams withdrew from the upcoming Bank of the West Classic because of an elbow injury she said must get “back to 100 percent.”