The IOC's home city of Lausanne is competing with Brasov, Romania, to host the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee says two cities applied by Thursday's deadline.
Lausanne is home to the IOC headquarters in Switzerland, while Brasov hosted the 2013 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival.
Swiss Olympic Committee president Joerg Schild says Brasov is ''an opponent to take seriously.'' The two cities must submit their detailed bid files by June 17, 2014.
A decision on the final short list will be made in Dec. 2014, with the winner selected in July or August 2015.
It will be the third edition of the Winter Youth Olympics, which features about 1,000 athletes competing over 10 days. Innsbruck, Austria, hosted in 2012, while Lillehammer, Norway, will stage the 2016 games.
