The decision for the 2018 winter Olympics host depends on the geographic dilemma of whether the Games should go to new territories in Asia or to the Alps, a senior IOC member said.
As Germany's Munich, France's Annecy and South Korea's Pyeongchang wrapped up their final presentations to 88 IOC members before the July 6 vote, IOC Executive Board member Gerhard Heiberg said it was the Alps versus Asia.
"For me this is it (the dilemma)," the Norwegian, who headed the Lillehammer 1994 winter Games, one of only a few held in Europe but not in the Alps, told a small group of reporters.
The IOC broke new ground two years ago awarding the 2016 summer Olympics to Rio de Janeiro, the first South American city to be chosen to host the Games.
Pyeongchang and Munich are seen as the frontrunners in the race, with Annecy having made up some ground in recent months after being told last year to considerably change their plans.
Heiberg said, however, the results would be difficult to predict in what he said would be a very tight race.
The IOC will elect the winner during their sessions in Durban, South Africa on July 6, Reuters reported.
