Norway government rejects 2022 Winter Olympics bid

Two cities remain for the bidding of the 2022 Winter Olympics after the Norwegian government rejected Oslo's bid, citing financial concerns, The Associated Press reports.

Beijing, China and Almaty, Kazakhstan remain the two cities left to host the games. Stockholm, Sweden, Krakow, Poland and Lviv, Ukraine dropped out from consideration earlier this year. Citizens in Switzerland and Germany also rejected an opportunity to bid.  Oslo has not hosted a Winter Olympic games since 1952.

“We believe it is right to stop the process, so it's up to the government to decide if they still want to go ahead,” Parliamentary leader of the Conservative Party, Trond Helland said, according to Vg.com.

According to the report, members of the ruling Conservative party voted against providing government financial guarantees for the bid. The junior partner in the minority coalition also voted against hosting the games.

Norway's Parliament decides whether an Olympic bid receives approval and Oslo withdrew its application for financial backing. Parliament will likely take up the issue again later in the year.

The International Olympic Committee will select the 2022 Winter Olympics host city on July 31, 2015, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

- Scooby Axson