South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak has called for the maximum effort to bring the 2018 Winter Olympics to the South Korean city of Pyeongchang.

The International Olympic Committee is scheduled to choose the winning city by secret ballot Wednesday in the South African city of Durban.

On the eve of the crucial vote, President Lee sought to encourage his country's delegation in Durban saying “let's put all our souls and might” into it.

The South Korean winter sports center in the eastern Taebaek Mountains region is competing against Germany's Munich and Annecy in France. It is Pyeongchang's third consecutive attempt to win the right to host the prestigious event.

Pyeongchang lost to to Russia's Sochi in a bid for the 2014 games and to Vancouver before that.