Seven cities, namely Sochi (Russian Federation), Salzburg (Austria), Jaca (Spain), Almaty (Kazakhstan), PyeongChang (Republic of Korea), Sofia (Bulgaria) and Borjomi (Georgia) - in the order of drawing of lots - initially submitted applications to host the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

The seven cities answered the Applicant City questionnaire which was then studied by a working group composed of Olympic Games experts, who made a technical assessment of each Applicant City's potential to stage successful Olympic Winter Games in 2014. The technical assessment was based on 25 questions which included the areas of Government Support and Public Opinion, General Infrastructure, Sports Venues, Olympic Village, Environmental Conditions and Impact, Accommodation, Transport, Security, Experience of Past Sports Events, Overall Project and Legacy. Based on the report by the working group, three of the seven cities were unanimously selected by the IOC’s Executive Board as Candidate Cities at its meeting on 22 June 2006. Listed in the official order of drawing of lots, these cities were:

- Sochi (Russian Federation)

- Salzburg (Austria)

- PyeongChang (Republic of Korea)

The three cities submitted a Candidature File in January 2007 based on the 17 different themes of the IOC’s Candidature Procedure and Questionnaire for 2014. The candidature files were then analysed in detail by the IOC Evaluation Commission, which also made inspections of the Candidate Cities before issuing a report on 4 June 2007.

The final decision on the Host City for the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014 was made by the full IOC membership during the 119th IOC Session in Guatemala City on 4 July 2007.