The city of Sapporo has become the first to officially bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics after the Japanese Olympic Committee approved its candidate file. Sapporo was host to the 1972 Winter Olympics and is considered the front runner. Salt Lake City in the United States is also being mentioned as a possible bidder, along with Barcelona and a bid tied to the Pyrenees. Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto got a strong endorsement earlier this month from International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach at meetings in Lausanne, Switzerland. Sapporo has strengthened its case by stepping in at the last minute and agreeing to hold the marathons for this year's Tokyo Olympics. The IOC abruptly made the change because of Tokyo's fierce summer heat.

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