Ukraine approves 2022 Winter Olympic bid from Lviv

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) The Ukrainian city of Lviv is entering the race for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The Ukraine National Olympic Committee and Lviv city officials signed letters Tuesday declaring their intent to bid for the games.

Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Vilkul says "our bid to host the 2022 Winter Games is based on the real need of the region."

He says "46 million Ukrainians need more sports and tourism infrastructure in the Carpathian Mountains."

Lviv and the region in western Ukraine that surrounds the city is home to 2.5 million people. Lviv would host the ice venues, while the ski events would take place in the nearby Carpathian mountains.

Nov. 14 is the deadline for submission of bids to the International Olympic Committee.

China said Tuesday that it submitted a 2022 bid from Beijing and the northern Chinese city of Zhangjiakou. Almaty, Kazakhstan, has also already officially lodged a 2022 bid. Other potential contenders include Oslo, Norway; Munich; and a joint bid from Poland and Slovakia.

The IOC will select the 2022 host city in 2015.