After two unsuccessful bids the South Korean resort of Pyeongchang is favoured to make it third time lucky and win the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members cast their votes on Wednesday.

Delegates from Pyeongchang have been in Durban, South Africa, the host city of the 123^rd IOC Session, for several days now preparing for their final presentation to the IOC members.

Rehearsals are being held in Durban’s International Conference Centre to make sure the final pitch is perfect. Pyeongchang missed out previously bidding for the 2010 (Vancouver) and 2014 (Sochi) Winter Games.

To win the coveted prize this time the South Koreans must topple Munich and the French city of Annecy.

Some journalists here are predicting Pyeongchang might get the required number of votes in the first ballot. It is estimated 100 IOC members will vote, if that is the case 50 votes will be sufficient for Pyeongchang to win.

But the Olympic media has been wrong before.

Chicago was a hot tip to win the race to host the 2016 Summer Games but they were the first city eliminated when the IOC voted in Copenhagen.

The feeling is that after two failed attempts the South Koreans have now “ticked all the boxes” with their bid.

If successful they say Pyeongchang will attract more people to winter sport not only in Asia but around the world and attract bigger television audiences to Olympic sport.

”We are committed to creating a long-term and sustainable winter sport legacy that means more winter sport athletes and fans around the world,” said Yuna Kim, the current Olympic champion in figure skating.

Australia has three IOC members eligible to vote; John Coates, Kevan Gosper and Phil Coles.

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Mike Tancred
AOC- Durban