GENEVA – The International Olympic Committee on Friday opened the bidding to host the Winter Olympics in 2018.

The host city will be chosen on July 6, 2011 at the committee's annual session in Durban, South Africa, the IOC said in a statement.

Countries have until October 15 to inform the Lausanne-based Olympic body of their potential candidates and the cities must submit their final application and guarantees by March 15, 2010.

The IOC's Executive Board will announce the list of accepted candidates by the end of June 2010 after an initial review of each bidder's potential.

The German city of Munich, which staged the 1972 Summer Olympics, Pyeongchang in South Korea and the French town of Annecy have so far announced their intention to bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics.