Pyeongchang , South Korea ( CNN ) -- The cheers were deafening in Pyeongchang , South Korea , early Thursday when the city was named to host the 2018 Winter Olympics . Thousands of South Koreans gathered at the foot of a ski jump well past midnight in a passionate display of excitement that included fireworks , singing , dancing , picnicking and kimchi -- the traditional Korean side dish . `` This is the victory of the South Korean people , '' said President Lee Myung Bak in Durban , South Africa , Wednesday , where the decision was announced . `` I thank you all , '' he added . Pyeongchang beat out two other bid cities : Munich , Germany , and Annecy , France . Their slogan for the Winter Olympics is `` New Horizons . '' Pyeongchang narrowly failed in its bids for the 2010 and 2014 Winter Games , losing by three votes to Vancouver , Canada , for last year 's event and by four votes to Sochi , Russia , for the 2014 games . The sheer number of locals who came to watch the pre-announcement show at the ski jump showed their confidence in this year 's decision . `` I can not even tell you how happy I am , '' said one resident . `` Everyone came together and prayed that we would win . '' South Korea has never hosted the Winter Games , though the capital city of Seoul hosted the 1988 Summer Games . Winter games gold for Korean economy . France has hosted three editions of the Winter Olympics , most recently in 1992 in Albertville . Annecy met with many difficulties in its bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics , including a small budget and change in leadership on the bid committee . Had it won , Munich would have been the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics . The city attracted the Summer Games in 1972 . Representatives from the three cities made their cases to committee members in Durban , South Africa Wednesday .
2018 : Pyeongchang , South Korea is chosen for the 2018 Winter Olympics . Japan has hosted three editions of the Winter Games . South Korea has never hosted the Winter Games . Munich was chosen to be the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics .