Munich 2018 Bid Signs Metro Group as Partner

The Munich bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics has received a boost ahead of the arrival of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission after signing up Metro Group as its latest corporate partner.

The IOC delegation will begin its four-day inspection of the Bavarian city’s plans for the 2018 Winter Olympics later today, March 1, having arrived in Germany on Sunday. With officials having already visited rival bidders from Annecy in France and PyeongChang in South Korea, Munich is the final stop on the IOC’s inspection tour.

International retail network Metro Group has been recruited as Munich 2018’s 11th national sponsor, and Munich 2018 CEO Bernhard Schwank said: “It is great to be able to unveil this latest asset for Munich 2018 on the eve of the Evaluation Commission visit. Metro Group’s show of commitment at this crucial time confirms that German business has faith in Munich’s chances of winning this bid.”

Meanwhile the second instalment of the ‘Living Bid Book’ series has illustrated the bid committee’s vision for CO2 compensation and the first ever climate-neutral Winter Games in Olympic history, with environmental expert to the bid, Boris Schwartz stating: “We would like to take this opportunity to set new standards in sustainability. It is very important that we make the most of Bavaria’s outstanding natural treasures whilst putting the least possible strain on the environment.”

Meanwhile Munich Olympic bid officials have indicated they will resume talks with a land owner unwilling to cede his property for the 2018 Winter Games, according to the Associated Press. Some farmers in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the planned site of the Alpine skiing events, have refused to give up their landed needed for the sports facilities.