Pyeongchang, South Korea, will host the ’18 Games, marking the “third straight Olympic host city decision in which the IOC voted to take the Games to a new country or region,” according to Philip Hersh of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. It was a “resounding, single-ballot victory” for Pyeongchang, as it received 63 votes compared to 25 for Munich, Germany, and seven for Annecy, France. Pyeongchang had finished second in the balloting for the ’10 and ’14 Games, but the bid committee “refined its message to concentrate more on sport than geopolitical ramifications.” The city sold the IOC “not only on giving the Games to South Korea but with a plan that is one of the most compact ever for a Winter Olympics.” Venues for all sports “are within 30 minutes of each other, and the alpine venues are barely 20 miles from the Sea of Japan” (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 7/6). Pyeongchang residents and bid supporters "jumped up and down in excitement and cried early Thursday in front of a giant television screen" after IOC President Jacques Rogge announced the winning city (AP, 7/6).
TWITTER REAX: Yahoo Sports' Sean Leahy wrote, "Next two Winter Olympics: Sochi, Russia, Pyeongchang, South Korea. Quite the time differences for Gary Bettman's liking." SI.com's Ann Killion: "Pyeongchang? Really? Over Annecy and Munich? Oh #IOC members, I don't understand you."
