Oslo, Norway formally withdrew its application to host the 2022 Winter Olympics on October 1, reports CCTV, leaving Beijing one step closer to hosting the event. The Chinese capital’s only competition is now Almaty, Kazakhstan.

A majority of Norway’s parliament voted against the Olympic bid over cost concerns. The $51 billion to host the 2014 Sochi Winter Games in Russia have made bidders for the next Olympics skittish about the possibility of massive debt, making the games colloquially known as “the games nobody wants”.

Prospective host cities that have already withdrawn include Stockholm, Sweden; Krakow, Poland; and Lviv, Ukraine. That leaves Beijing with a good chance of hosting. Almaty has not been known as a favorite with the Olympic committee, but Beijing brings its own baggage following massive protests over its selection to host the Olympics in 2008.

Photo: Caijing