SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- South Korean city Pyeongchang on Friday announced its bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.

    It was the third time that the city, 180 km east of Seoul, attempted to host the Winter Olympics after missing out on the 2010 and 2014 Games.

    "Hosting the Winter Olympics is a long dream of the South Korean people. We believe that we can succeed in our third attempt," said Kim Man-gi, a spokesman for Gangwon Province, to which Pyeongchang belongs.

    Kim said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is expected to notify its member states of the schedule for selecting the 2018Winter Olympics host city in February.

    If the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) confirms Pyeongchang as the country's candidate, a bidding committee will be established by March, Kim said.

    The South Korean government will submit an official application to the IOC in October and then start the international campaign, he added.

    The host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics will be decided at an IOC general assembly slated for July 2011 in Durban, South Africa.