Salzburg (Austria,) Sochi (Russia,) and Pyeongchang (South Korea) are the finalists to host the 2014 Olympics, and the winner--to be announced July 4, 2007--will accept the flag at the closing ceremony in Vancover, in 2010.

Having been to Salzburg twice, I'd be very happy to return there, not that I have any influence (though I should .) Cities eliminated: Almaty (Kazakhstan,) Borjomi (Georgia,) and Sofia (Bulgaria.) How could Almaty or Borjomi have afforded to host the Olympics?!?

~Adam

The three finalists don't surprise me, except maybe Sochi. Personally I'd love to see Salzburg get the nod, it would be an incredible cultural (Mozart's hometown) showcase. But I have a feeling that Pyeongchange is gonna take it. The last winter games in Asia were in 98 (Nagano) and the area is due to host again. With their emphasis on spreading the games around, I don't see the IOC going North America (SLC 02), Europe (Torino 06), North America (Vancouver 10) and then back to Europe again in 14.

Of course I was surprised with London won the 2012 vote last year. I'm just hoping San Francisco gets the US bid for 2016. No disrespect to the other 4 cities bidding, but I would love to see so many San Francisco landmarks featured.

Personally, I am surprised there was no German bid. They haven't hosted a winter games since 1936. Perhaps in light of their World Cup hosting success, they'll bid in 2018 or 2020.

My money for 2014 is on Sochi. Russia (or the territory we now call Russia that was part of the USSR) has only held one games before, Moscow in 1980. Since one quarter of the world followed the US boycott, there are a couple of billion people who have never seen the Russians (or the former Soviets) host. But the big driver for Sochi, for me, is Russia's/USSR's standing as one of the most-dominant sports powers in the history of the Games, yet one that has barely had a chance to play on their home turf.

Pyeongchang has a decent shot if only because of the continental-diversity factor. The problem with Pyeongchang is that if tensions between North Korea and the rest of the world continue to threaten the stability of the Korean Peninsula, particularly since the selection process will be finalized within the next year, I can't see the IOC directing billions of dollars into a Games whose success might be threatened by war or political strife.

Salzburg is probably the perfect location, but it's just the wrong time for another European host(particularly after Athens 2000, Torino 2006, and London 2012). I know, technically, Sochi is in Europe, but Russia is perhaps the least "European" country within Europe.

With the success of the World Cup, I'd look for Berlin to make a push for 2020. Of course bidding for that doesn't even start until around 2011.

You make a great point about the political conflict in the Korean Peninsula. That could be a bing difference maker come next year. With Sochi I'd be worried about financing for the games. Salzburg just seems to be the "safe" bet.