Sapporo will move to host the 2017 Asian Winter Games, sources said on Tuesday.
The city of Obihiro, also in Hokkaido, is in talks with Sapporo to hold some of the sporting events. It is likely Sapporo, which will make a formal decision in January, will be the only bidding city as no others are moving to become candidates.
"If Sapporo accepts hosting the Asian Winter Games, we can continue holding Asian winter sports without extinguishing the torch," said JOC President Tsunekazu Takeda. "This would be a joyous occasion for the JOC. We would like to give our utmost cooperation to help pull this off."
The host city for the 2017 Asian Winter Games will be decided at an Olympic Council of Asia general assembly at the 7th edition of the Winter Asiad being held in both Astana and Almaty, Kazakhstan, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 6.