LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The Japanese city of Sapporo has dropped its bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics following a recent earthquake. After meeting with Sapporo representatives, the International Olympic Committee said Monday the city, which became the first in Asia to host the Winter Olympics in 1972, will now focus on a bid for the 2030 Games. Sapporo’s exit means there is no chance of having three consecutive Winter Olympics in East Asia after this year’s games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and the upcoming 2022 event in Beijing. However, each of the remaining bids faces its own challenges. Calgary’s bid faces a non-binding referendum Nov. 13 — Olympic bids elsewhere have often struggled to win over voters.

Source: National Post September 17, 2018 14:15 UTC