Lviv city council backs proposed Ukrainian bid to host 2020 Winter Olympics

LVIV, Ukraine - Lviv's city council has voted in favour of a proposed bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyy says "this is a great opportunity and a huge responsibility for our city."

The bid still requires final approval from Ukraine's national Olympic committee, which meets on Nov. 5 in Kyiv.

Committee president Sergei Bubka says in a statement Monday that "this is a national priority project and the whole of Ukraine will join efforts behind our bid."

Other potential candidates include Almaty, Kazakhstan; Munich; Oslo, Norway; and a joint Poland-Slovakia bid.

Lviv is currently at the centre of a football racism case. FIFA has banned Ukraine from playing qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup at the Lviv stadium because of racist behaviour by fans during a match against San Marino on Sept. 6. Ukraine is appealing.