Korea's Pyeongchang City has received the highest score in the International Olympic Committee's February inspection tour of candidates to host the 2014 Winter Olympics.

In the inspection report released by the IOC Monday, Pyeongchang received a grade of "excellent" meaning an overall positive assessment in all 16 areas that were surveyed including lodging, transportation, finance and safety.

Rival candidate Salzburg, Austria was also judged as "excellent" due to its superb infrastructure, but a 27 percent strong public opposition is likely to hurt its prospects.

The other contender Sochi, Russia, which has no winter Olympic stadium facilities, received a "very good" rating, which is a notch lower than "excellent."

The host city will be decided in a vote by the 105 IOC members when they meet July fourth for their general assembly in Guatemala.