AKIPRESS.COM - The underdog candidate to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, Almaty in Kazakhstan, delivered a strong presentation at an International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland on Tuesday - proving that the contest may not be as one-sided as some thought, reports DW.

Beijing had been considered the favorite in what became a two-city race when Oslo dropped out in October 2014 after one political party criticized the demands made by the IOC on host cities. Almaty, however, turned the tables on Beijing on Tuesday by presenting itself as a "real" winter setting with abundant natural snow.

Each city was given 45 minutes to present their bids, followed by another 45 minute question and answer session, reports The Associated Press.

"I was very, very agreeably surprised," said Canadian IOC member Dick Pound of Almaty's talk to the Associated Press. "I think they attracted the attention of people who may not have been convinced before. It looks to me like they figured out all of the weaknesses of the competitors and the just nailed the differences - snow, water, air, experience."