YONHAP NEWS

PyeongChang set to submit Olympic application to IOC

SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- PyeongChang, the South Korean bidder for the 2018 Winter Olympics, has finalized its application file to be presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by March 15, its bidding committee said Wednesday.

In the document, PyeongChang, an alpine resort county about 180 kilometers east of Seoul, highlighted its merits as an Olympic host, including the location of all sports venues within a 30-minute drive and the South Korean people's enthusiasm for winter sports, said the committee.

PyeongChang, which lost twice to Canada's Vancouver and Russia's Sochi in its previous Olympic bids, is now competing against Germany's Munich and France's Annecy for the 2018 Olympics.

   "Submitting the application file is the first step in an IOC process for the Winter Olympics," said Kim Jin-sun, co-chairman of PyeongChang's bidding committee, at a press conference held in downtown Seoul. "On behalf of all South Korean people, we have prepared the file sincerely. We are confident we will get higher scores than the other competing cities."

   The IOC required the three bidders to answer 25 questions on facilities, transportation and accommodations by March 15. It will announce the official candidate cities around June 21, based on the responses which will not be made public until then.

   "PyeongChang has strong points. Stadiums and sports facilities are concentrated in a 30-minute driving radius and two previous bid failures helped us accumulate experience," said Cho Yang-ho, another co-chairman. "In particular, we have unified national support for the Games."

   The host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics will be selected at an IOC general meeting in July 2011 in Durban, South Africa.

   brk@yna.co.kr
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