Olympics: Sapporo gets JOC approval for 2030 Winter Games bid

The Japan Olympic Committee has given Sapporo the green light to enter the dialogue stage of the 2030 Winter Games bid process with the International Olympic Committee, a JOC official said Wednesday.The JOC formally voted to allow the northern Japan city to move forward with the bid at its board meeting in Tokyo.Sapporo, which hosted the 1972 Winter Games, was praised as a potential candidate this month by IOC president Thomas Bach, after it stepped in at short notice to host this summer's Tokyo Olympic marathon and race walk events.Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto spoke with Bach on Jan. 11…READ FULL ARTICLE