The city's Bid Committee believe their chances of beating rivals Annecy and Pyeongchang when the IOC Session votes on the host city in Durban on July 6 has grown following an intensive programme of presentations and site visits during which it stressed its experience in staging top-flight winter sports events, the unparalleled excitement that Germany's millions of fans will generate, and the endless opportunities a Winter Games in Bavaria will offer for the future.

"Winter sport is such an integral part of our culture," said Katarina Witt, the double Olympic skating champion who is the chair of Munich 2018. 

"Young people grow up on skis or skates – the ice and snow are in our blood.

"That is why every athlete from every country experiences the thrill of a roaring crowd when they compete here.

"The inspiration you get from a stadium full of passionate, knowledgeable fans can drive you to achieve that little bit extra.

"Germany's fans would inspire 2018's Olympians and Paralympians to even greater heights and create an atmosphere of incredible excitement around the Winter Games."

Many of the Evaluation Commission's site visits involved tours of venues fresh from international competitions, including the Alpine World Ski Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the World Bob Championships in Konigssee.


Both venues would be used during the Olympics if Munich's bid is successful.

"This season alone we have staged three World Championships and 12 World Cups in sports on the Winter Games programme, for over one million spectators," said Thomas Bach, the President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the vice-president of the IOC.

"We have world class venues with all the infrastructure and facilities to create the finest possible competitive environment.

"We have proven operational expertise and renowned specialists who know what separates a good event from a great one."

Lord Mayor of Munich, Christian Ude, emphasised the endless opportunities a Winter Games would open up for the future of winter sport.

"Our mission is to reinvigorate the winter sports movement and ensure its long term health and sustainability - Munich 2018 will attract unprecedented investment in all levels of sport in Germany," he said.

The newly-installed Minister of the Interior, Hans-Peter Friedrich, expressed his personal backing for Munich 2018's "beautiful idea" and his hope that "the professionalism and the passion" of the Bid Committee had made an impact on the Evaluation Commission.

The Bid Committee was particularly pleased to have clarified the issue of land ownership in Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the Evaluation Commission.

This positive momentum from the Evaluation Commission will be crucial as Munich 2018 prepares for the next important milestones: the Oceania National Olympic Committees General Assembly from March 24-26; SportAccord from April 3-8; and the technical presentation to the IOC in Lausanne on May 17 and 18, they claimed.

"It has been an intensive and challenging week, but our bid concept will certainly be stronger for the experience," said Bernhard Schwank, the chief executive of Munich 2018.

"We have effectively communicated the unique attributes of our bid and we have learnt a great deal from listening to the wisdom and insight of these hugely experienced Evaluation Commission members."

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