The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today officially opened the bid process for the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games and the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, and have given timescales for potential bid cities to be nominated.

The process for the 2022 Winter Games will consist of two phases, the candidature acceptance procedure and the candidature procedure, beginning with the deadline for National Olympic Committee's (NOC) to submit their chosen bid city on November 14 this year.

An applicant city seminar will take place in December 4 until 6 this year in Lausanne, before potential host cities delegations travel to Sochi for a Winter Games Observer Programme during next year's Games in February.

Candidature files will then be submitted the following month on March 14, before the IOC Executive Board announces the shortlist of candidate cities in July 2014 on a date to be confirmed.