From Munich 2018    

DURBAN, July 4, 2011 - Nearly 100 international journalists gathered at Monday’s Munich 2018 press conference for a powerful presentation of the Bid Committee’s athlete-focused bid from two icons of the Winter Games, Katarina Witt and Verena Bentele.

Katarina Witt, a two-time Olympic gold medallist in figure skating, emphasised that Munich 2018 is ‘a bid from athletes, for athletes’:

‘We have 125 sports ambassadors who have been supporting us from the very beginning. They’ve been involved from the start and made it an athlete-driven bid. They have over 100 Olympic and Paralympic medals between them.’

She went on to emphasise Munich 2018’s compelling combination of established winter sports infrastructure and a passionate, knowledgeable fan base numbering in the tens of millions:

‘This season we had 12 World Cups and three World Championships, so it’s been a great winter for athletes who came from all over the world. Munich 2018 is about delivering the state-of-the-art hardware, with all the venues that are already in place. But we will also deliver the software, the heart and soul and the passion.’

Witt also confirmed that the President of the Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup, Franz Beckenbauer, who won the FIFA World Cup as both captain and coach of Germany, will be part of the Munich 2018 delegation in Durban. 

‘Franz Beckenbauer is supporting us. He has been involved from the very start as part of the Board of Trustees, which I lead. We are very happy that he is here to support us.’

Verena Bentele, who has a remarkable 12 Paralympic gold medals to her name, emphasised the unforgettable experience athletes can expect in Germany:

‘The energy and enthusiasm of the crowd is one of the most wonderful things we can give. We have good winter sports fans, fair fans clapping for everyone. The Munich 2018 venues are already integral to our sports lives in Munich. We know how to deal with big crowds and organise events. From an athlete’s perspective, it’s important to have good infrastructure.’

She also highlighted the strength and popularity of Paralympic sport in Germany:

‘Paralympic sport is good in Germany because we have good, successful athletes. There is a good acceptance in Germany because they have performed well in recent years. They show what it means to do high-level sport whether you have a disability or not.’

 Commenting on what it would mean to her to stage the Winter Games in her home town of Munich, Bentele said:

‘I’ve lived in Munich for ten years, and I very often do my training in the Olympic Park. For training there isn’t a big crowd, but to be there with a big celebration – that would be like another gold medal for me.’

Munich 2018’s final press conference before the IOC’s host city decision will be at 2pm on Tuesday 5 July at the North Beach Hotel. Horst Seehofer, the Prime Minister of Bavaria, will reiterate the committed support for Munich 2018 from every level of government in Germany. A number of Munich 2018’s high-profile sports ambassadors will also be present.