S. Korean gov't approves PyeongChang's bid

SEOUL, June 20 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government has approved the third bid
of PyeongChang to host the Winter Olympic Games in 2018, officials from the city
said Saturday.

The city, located in the mountainous region of Gangwon Province, about 180 km
east of the capital, Seoul, was named South Korea's candidate city for the 2018
global showpiece by the nation's Olympic committee in April.
As the government promised financial support, the city will establish a bidding
committee in July and submit an official application for PyeongChang's bid to the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) by October, according to officials of the
city's sports committee.
PyeongChang was edged out by Vancouver, Canada, in its bid for the 2010 Winter
Games, and by Sochi, Russia, for 2014. It is expected to compete for the 2018
event with Germany's Munich and France's Annecy until the IOC announces the host
city in 2011 in Durban, South Africa.
brk@yna.co.kr
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