Munich's report was also largely positive but Annecy appear to be the big losers after the report criticised the distance and travel time between the some of the venues, particularly their proposed four Olympic Villages.

Pyeongchang was praised across all spectrums of the report with the huge local support for the Games being one of the key strengths of the bid highlighted by the Commission, which was chaired by Sweden's Gunilla Lindberg, a member of the IOC's ruling Executive Board, and who visited the three cities in February and March.

"National, regional and local support for the 2018 Games is high and there is no apparent opposition to the Games," the report says.

"The public opinion poll commissioned by the IOC shows the following levels of support for hosting the 2018 Olympic Winter Games: 92 per cent support in Pyeongchang, 87 per cent in Gangwon Province and 87 per cent nationally.

"Legislation would allow for a local referendum.

"Given the high levels of public support, the Commission feels that a referendum would be unlikely."

In contrast, the figures for Munich were 60 per cent support the city, 53 per cent in Bavaria and 56 per cent across Germany.

Annecy was 51 per cent support in Annecy, 63 per cent in Rhône-Alpes and 62 per cent nationally.

The travel time between venues in Pyeongchang was also highlighted as a huge benefit as the report stated that "Pyeongchang 2018 proposes a compact plan with two Olympic Villages with a short travel time between the Villages".

It is an area where the report identifies Annecy as being seriously weak.

Regarding the Olympic Villages in Annecy, the report says: "The Village concept has been based on providing athletes with short travel times as, overall, 80 per cent of athletes would be less than ten minutes from their respective competition venue.

"The four villages would be relatively spread out however and, as a result, NOCs (National Olympic Committees) would experience operational and transport challenges."

Munich's only minor low point surrounded the local opposition to the bid with the report acknowledging that "there is some opposition to the bid at the local level".


But Munich's success in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen referendum two days ago essentially counters the criticism and chair Katarina Witt (pictured) will be hoping that they can put that behind them to match London who were not ranked first in the Evaluation report for the 2012 Summer Olympics but overcame the first-placed Paris to triumph.

The report though concluded that none of three candidates presents a major risk.

"The Commission believes that all three Candidate Cities could successfully host the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, with each city offering its own distinct vision and concept," it said.

"The Commission is of the opinion that each city's concept offers a viable option to the IOC though the very nature of each project presents different risks."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]