2022: Residents of Krakow have voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to halt the Polish city's bid to secure the 2022 Winter Olympics, prompting an end to their campaign.

The withdrawal of Krakow leaves Beijing, Almaty, Oslo and the Ukrainian city of Lviv as the remaining candidates.

Almost 70 per cent of voters opposed Krakow's bid in a referendum on Sunday, said city spokesman Filip Szatanik.

"This result marks the end of the efforts by the municipality to organise the Olympic Games," he said.

Poland had wanted to hold the Games with the Slovak Republic.

In January, Stockholm withdrew from the race over the cost. Several right and left wing political parties in Norway have also refused to back Oslo's candidacy.

Boerre Rognlien, president of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports, said Krakow's move boosts the Oslo bid.

"Our candidacy is maintained and it is clear that with one less competitor, we will have more opportunity to influence the way the Winter Olympics will be organised," he said.

The International Olympic Committee is to designate the finalists in the competition at a Lausanne meeting on July 7-9.

The winner will be announced on July 31, 2015 at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

AFP