The third attempt turned out to be a resurrection.
South Korea had waited patiently until the taste of victory today, when the nation burst into tears of joy for winning 2018 Winter Olympics bid.
Pyeongchang, Korea, was announced as the host city for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games today - a crushing victory over rivals Munich of Germany and Annecy of France in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote in Durban. After two failed attempts for 2010 and 2014, Pyeongchang will mark the first Winter Games in Asia outside of Japan, where Winter Olympics were hosted in Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998.
This is one of the best moments in my life, said Yang Ho-cho, chairman of the Pyeongchang bid committee.
Fireworks lit up the midnight sky around a giant ski jump nestled in the foothills of the Taeback mountains near the small town of Pyeongchang and thousands screamed in delight, reported Reuters.
Kim Yu-na, the most renown South Korean figure skating champion, pitched South Korea's 2018 bid as part of the Korean city's bid team to the International Olympic Committee hours before the vote.
Pyeongchang County is the third largest county, located in Gangwon province, South Korea. The mountaneous area makes it the most famous winter sports center of the nation.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge announces Pyeongchang as the winning city bid for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games during the 123rd IOC session in Durban July 6, 2011. Pyeongchang was awarded the 2018 Winter Olympic Games on Wednesday, defeating Annecy in France and PyeongChang in South Korea in the final round of voting.REUTERSSouth Korean Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-na (L) and members of the Pyeongchang 2018 bid committee react after the announcement of the winning city bid for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games during the 123rd IOC session in Durban July 6, 2011. Pyeongchang of South Korea won the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympics on Wednesday, comprehensively winning a vote by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over rivals Munich of Germany and France's Annecy.REUTERSSouth Koreans react as they hear that Pyeongchang would win in a first round of voting for the 2018 Winter Olympics Games in Pyeongchang, at a ski jump stadium in Pyeongchang, about 180 km (112 miles) east of Seoul, July 6, 2011. The South Korean city of Pyeongchang was chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday to stage the 2018 Winter Olympics, defeating rivals Annecy of France and Munich of Germany.REUTERSA member of the Pyeongchang 2018 bid committee cries after the announcement of the winning city bid for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games during the 123rd IOC session in Durban July 6, 2011. Pyeongchang of South Korea won the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympics on Wednesday, comprehensively winning a vote by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over rivals Munich of Germany and France's Annecy.REUTERSSouth Korea's President Lee Myung-bak (C) and members of the Pyeongchang 2018 bid committee react after the announcement of the winning city bid for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games during the 123rd IOC session in Durban July 6, 2011. Pyeongchang of South Korea won the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympics on Wednesday, comprehensively winning a vote by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over rivals Munich of Germany and France's Annecy.REUTERSSouth Koreans celebrate as they hear that Pyeongchang won in a first round of voting for the 2018 Winter Olympics Games in Pyeongchang, at a ski jump stadium in Pyeongchang, about 180 km (112 miles) east of Seoul, July 7, 2011. The South Korean city of Pyeongchang was chosen by the International Olympic Committee on Wednesday to stage the 2018 Winter Olympics, defeating rivals Annecy of France and Munich of Germany.REUTERSMembers of the Pyeongchang 2018 bid committee react after the announcement of the winning city bid for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games during the 123rd IOC session in Durban July 6, 2011. Pyeongchang of South Korea won the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympics on Wednesday, comprehensively winning a vote by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over rivals Munich of Germany and France's Annecy.REUTERS
