Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The city of Sapporo is the first to officially bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics and becomes the early favorite after the Japanese Olympic Committee approved its candidate file.

Sapporo was host to the 1972 Winter Olympics and could face competition from Salt Lake City in the United States, which is also being mentioned as a possible bidder, along with Barcelona and a bid tied to the Pyrenees.

Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto got a strong endorsement earlier this month from International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.

Sapporo has strengthened its case by stepping in at the last minute and agreeing to hold the marathons for this year’s Tokyo Olympics. The IOC abruptly made the change because of Tokyo’s fierce summer heat.