Munich Bid Gets Timely Boost on Eve of Presentation to IOC

May 18, 2011

Munich’s bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics received a timely boost yesterday, May 17, when officials secured the last piece of property needed for the downhill course.

The announcement was made just in time as far as the German city was confirmed, made on the eve of today’s, May 18, bid presentation to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The agreement has seemingly killed off the one remaining domestic obstacle to the bid after residents of Garmisch-Partenkirchen recently voted against a bill to withdraw from the 2018 Winter Games tender.

The bid was thrown into serious doubt after some landowners in Garmisch-Partenkirchen had refused to hand over their properties for the Games, but having now secured about 3,500 square metres in the latest deal, officials behind the bid have ensured that the skiing events can be staged in the resort.

Munich bid CEO Bernhard Schwank stated: “We are very pleased that the land ownership discussions have taken this big step forward. Talks have been progressing quickly and constructively for some time now, and we were always confident that we would be able to find the best solution for all parties. This is further evidence that the people of Garmisch-Partenkirchen are firmly behind our bid.

“The properties for the sporting events of the 2018 Winter Games now have been 100% secured. Seven years before possibly staging the games we have an optimal offer for the IOC.”

The IOC will announce the winning bid from the three candidates of Annecy, PyeongChang and Munich in Durban, South Africa on July 6.