IOC picks three finalists for 2014 Winter Games

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Three cities — two from Europe and one from Asia — made the cut Thursday as the IOC trimmed the field for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Salzburg, Austria; Pyeongchang, South Korea; and Sochi, Russia were selected as finalists by the International Olympic Committee's executive board.

Eliminated from the race were Almaty, Kazakhstan; Borjomi, Georgia; Jaca, Spain; and Sofia, Bulgaria.

While Thursday's cut was made by the Olympics' 15-member ruling body, the full 100-plus IOC assembly will select the host city at its session in Guatemala City on July 4, 2007.

The main question had been whether the IOC would go for three or four finalists. Almaty had been considered the likely choice as a fourth bidder.

"It was not a question of quantity, it was a question of quality," IOC president Jacques Rogge said.

IOC executive Gerhard Heiberg of Norway said the board had "lengthy discussions" about whether to include a fourth finalist.

"It was a very good debate, but in the end we decided to go for three," he said. "Three of them are totally qualified in every respect. We know we are safe. All three will be very good organizers."

The board based its decision in part on a written report compiled by IOC experts evaluating 11 different criteria, including sports venues, security, financing and government support. Salzburg came out on top in the overall ratings with a score between 8 and 9 out of 10. Pyeongchang was second with a figure straddling 7-8, with Sochi next at 6-7. Almaty was fourth at 5-6, followed by Jaca 4-5, Sofia 3-4 and Borjomi 2-3.

Salzburg bid leader Fedor Radmann sought to downplay the Austrian city's front-runner status.

"We are not the favorite," he said. "We don't like this feeling. We won't talk about the others."

Salzburg and Pyeongchang were finalists in the vote for the 2010 Olympics, which were awarded to Vancouver, British Columbia. The little-known Korean bid finished a surprising second, and the Austrian city third.

Salzburg, which represents the traditional European Alpine winter setting, has come forward with a leaner, more compact bid.

"Last time we put too much weight on culture and Mozart," Radmann said, referring to promotional efforts emphasizing the city's fame as the birthplace of the composer. 'This time, we are putting sports and athletes at the heart of the bid."

Pyeongchang, in Korea's Gangwon Province, is hoping to build on its momentum from the first bid to establish itself as an Asian winter sports capital.