Merkel Keeps to Hosting IOC Dinner Despite Cabinet Reshuffle

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor hosted a dinner for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission yesterday, March 3, despite being forced into a cabinet reshuffle earlier in the day.

Much of the main news in the nation in recent days has been regarding allegations made against Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg that he had plagiarised sources in his PhD thesis, and he was forced to quit as a result.

Merkel made the decision to replace Guttenberg as Defence Minister with Thomas de Maiziere, previously the Interior Minister, a role which has now been taken up by Hans-Peter Friedrich. The two newly appointed cabinet members joined Merkel, along with Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, in hosting the dinner – a high-powered message that the German Government are behind the bid.

“We have every chance, after the summer fairy tale we have with the 2006 World Cup to now have a winter fairy tale,” said Merkel.

The Chancellor has always been behind Munich’s bid and has also given the necessary Government financial guarantees. 

Merkel added: “I think the world would be overjoyed if we got to host the Games.

“We all – the city, the region and the nation – support the bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen.”