Pyeongchang wins 2018 Winter Olympics hosting race

Pyeongchang has been chosen to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The South Korean candidate was selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the first round of voting ahead of Munich in Germany and Annecy in France.

Pyeongchang received 63 of the Committee's 95 votes, well ahead of Munich's 25 and Annecy's seven.

It is a case of third time lucky for Pyeongchang, which lost to Vancouver and Sochi respectively for the right to host the 2010 and 2014 Winter Games.

Pyeongchang bid chief Cho Yang-ho explained "this is one of the happiest days for our country, our people and millions of youth dreaming of winter sport."

People took to the streets in Korea during the early hours of this morning to hear the announcement from the IOC's Congress in South Africa. After two failed bids and a decade of waiting, the celebrations they've bottled up for years were expressed with concerts and fireworks. The opportunity to develop a new market for the Winter Games in Asia was seen as the real jewel of this presentation. Korea promised access to some 600 million young Asians, and the chance to develop a new culture of winter sports here. Only Japan has hosted the Winter Games before, and it's only the third time the Games have been held in Asia.

South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak said earlier this week he saw it as "his duty" to bring the Games back for Asia. With the announcement, for many Koreans, the hosting just feels like pleasure.

Pyeongchang, which has a population of 47,000 and is situated near South Korea's east coast, says it can spread the Olympics to a lucrative new market in Asia and become a hub for winter sports in the region.

The Winter Games have twice before been held in Asia, both times in Japan - Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998.

The result is a personal success for President Lee, who was a key figure in Wednesday's final presentation to the IOC. When IOC President Jacques Rogge delivered the decision, Lee celebrated with his fellow delegates, including reigning Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-na.

President Lee explained "I will make a good Olympics. This is a victory for the Koreans, thank you to them."

In an emotional presentation on Wednesday, Pyeongchang hammered home the message that South Korea has shown its determination time and again after twice missing out and had improved after listening to the advice of the IOC.

Munich sought to counter Pyeongchang's emotional pull, with Thomas Bach, an IOC Vice President and a senior leader of Munich's bid, noting that Germany was making its fourth Winter or Summer Olympics bid in recent years and that it has been more than 70 years since the country hosted the Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1936.

Outsiders Annecy were never able to gain enough momentum to mount a serious challenge, despite their calls for an "authentic" ecologically-friendly games in the heart of the French Alps.

This was the first time an Olympic bid race with more than two finalists was decided in the first round since 1995, when Salt Lake City defeated three others to secure the 2002 Winter Games.

IOC President Rogge admitted he was surprised that the vote was concluded in the first round, but said: "the best (bid) has won convincingly.

"I think that there is maybe a lesson in the achievement of Pyeongchang. It's that patience and perseverance have prevailed."

2018 WINTER GAMES VOTE RESULT

Pyeongchang: 63
Munich: 25
Annecy: 7

For more information go to www.pyeongchang2018.org/language/eng/index.asp?hb_Manager_PK=VDENAA01&s=

5th July 2011 - PYEONGCHANG FAVOURITE TO SECURE 2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

23rd June 2010 - PYEONGCHANG, ANNECY & MUNICH MAKE 2018 WINTER GAMES SHORTLIST