DECISION 2018: Munich urges IOC members to put trust in their Olympic bid

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Posted: Wednesday 6th July 2011 | 9:22

GERMAN president Christian Wuff has asked the International Olympic Committee to place their trust in Munich – and elect the city hosts of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

SUPPORTER: Thomas Bach, a likely candidate to be the next IOC president, spoke powerfully in favour of Munich’s 2018 Olympic bid

Wuff was the star political turn in a delegation that included senior IOC member Thomas Bach, bid chairman and two-time Olympic figure skating gold medallist Katarina Witt, bid chief executive Bernard Schwank, football legend Franz Beckenbauer and double Olympic champion skier Maria Riesch.

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Their 45-minute presentation to IOC members was slick, if a little predictable, and will be followed by rivals Annecy and frontrunners Pyeongchang, with members voting on their city of choice later today.

“Place your trust in us for the Winter Games 2018,” said Wuff. “Germany is united behind Munich 2018. We recognise the huge achievements of sports organisation like the IOC and we are committed to the values of the Paralympic Games.

“Let our dreams come true.”

Munich are considered the closest challengers to Pyeongchang, who are making a third bid for the Games having lost out to Vancouver and Sochi in recent elections.

It would be the first city to stage both the summer and winter Games with many of the 1972 Olympic venues used for ice events and snow competitions held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which hosted the Olympics in 1936.

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Witt guaranteed ‘full stadia’ while Munich mayor Christian Ude promised beer – something that usually guarantees victory in student elections – by simulating the tapping of a famous Oktoberfest keg.

“We have been longing to host the Winter Olympic Games for more than 80 years,” said Bach, considered one of the likely successors to current IOC president Jacques Rogge when he stands aside in 2013.

“Today is about the questions we will all face tomorrow. It is about the sport tomorrow and the society of tomorrow. This is a sport driven bid.

“Can Olympic Winter Games be organised in a sustainable way? Yes. The legacy of Munich 2018 will not be jeopardised by any White elephants.

“Is the election of the host really about sport and the athletes? Yes.”

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Bach also subtly countered the argument of rivals Pyeongchang, who it is believed may finally be rewarded for their perseverance after two unsuccessful bids.

“If I were to speak from my heart I would tell you this is the fourth Olympic bid from Germany in recent years,” he added.

“But this decision today is about the merits and only the merits of the 2018 bids.”

Witt later declared herself ‘delighted’ with the response the presentation received – but admitted she was happy the pressure was finally off.

“I think the IOC’s attention was uninterrupted,” she said.

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“It was a special day we had worked towards for two years and we are now first of all relieved it is over.”

©  2011

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