The International Olympic Committee announced Friday that three applications have been submitted to host the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. The cities of Annecy, France; Munich, Germany and PyeongChang, South Korea have been nominated by their National Olympic Committees and will begin a campaign that will conclude with a final vote in Durban, South Africa on July 6, 2011.
This is the smallest number of applicants for the past several years – the 2014 Games received seven applicants and the 2010 Games received eight applicants. The deadline for applications was October 15 and application fees of USD$150,000 are due from the three cities by November 1.
The cities have until March 15, 2010 to prepare a questionnaire response used by the IOC to determine which cities qualify for the candidature phase. A short list of candidates will be announced by the end of June 2010.
This is PyeongChang’s third consecutive bid – the city narrowly lost elections for the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Games. This is Munich’s first bid for the Winter Games having already hosted the Summer Games in 1972. Annecy is bidding for the first time – France hosted their last Winter Games in Albertville in 1992.
Harbin, China had been expected to bid but Chinese officials unexpectedly announced earlier this week that no bids would be submitted. Almaty, Kazhakhstan narrowly missed the 2014 shortlist but despite rumors that they may submit a last minute bid – none came forth.
