Official: Olympic Winter Games won't move for 2022 World Cup

The president of the Association of National Olympic Committees said that the 2022 Winter Olympics will not move from its February time slot to order to make

The president of the Association of National Olympic Committees said that the 2022 Winter Olympics will not move from its February time slot to order to make way for the World Cup in Qatar should officials decide to move the soccer tournament to winter. 

FIFA has said it is considering moving the World Cup because of extreme heat in Qatar during the summer, when the tournament is traditionally played. Soccer leaders are reportedly leaning toward staging the tournament in January-February or November-December.

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, the president of the Association of National Olympic Committees, said it is up to FIFA officials to move the tournament in order to make sure the two events do not overlap.

"The Olympics should be maintained," Sheikh Ahmad said to the Associated Press. "The IOC will maintain their time because we already have been committed, the organizers have been organized, the broadcasting, the marketing partners."

• UEFA president Platini wants 2022 World Cup in winter

The International Olympic committee says that it has assurances from FIFA President Sepp Blatter that the two events will not overlap. 

"Somebody is talking about January and February before the games, somebody speaking about October and November and others asking to maintain in August," Sheikh Ahmad said. "Let the commission do their homework, but I am 100 percent confident they will never be at the same time."

There are now just two cities -- Beijing and Almaty, Kazakhstan -- left in the race to host the 2022 Olympic Games. The IOC will choose the host city next July.

- Scooby Axson