IOC trims candidate field 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.

The cities making the cut have to pay a $500,000 fee to cover the bidding process and will be required to submit their formal bid books by January 2007.

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 rated first in nine of the 11 categories, lagging only in government support (fourth) and transportation (second).