The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Friday that three cities have officially applied to be the location of the 2018 Winter Games. In addition to Munich, the cities include Annecy, France and Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Munich previously hosted the Summer Games in 1972, and hopes to become the first city to hold both the Summer and Winter games. Pyeongchang is bidding for the third time in a row.

According to the IOC, the three cities are now set to proceed to the first phase of the application procedure. The cities will fill out a questionnaire and the IOC will evaluate the city's potential to organize the event successfully. At the end of this stage, the cities that pass the review will officially become candidates cities.

A decision from the International Olympic Committee on where the 2018 Winter Games will take place is expected in 2011.


hf/AP/dpa
Editor: Andreas Illmer