Olympics 2018
March 3, 2010
Thousands of eager fans gathered in Munich to welcome German athletes home from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. But for city officals, the celebration was more than just a party, it was also a chance for the city of Munich to showcase its suitability to host the 2018 Olympics. The Bavarian capital is one of three cities in the running to host the Olympic Winter Games in 2018.
In its bid to the International Olympic Committee, Munich has proposed a multi-venue concept, with ice events to take place at Munich's Olympic Park, bobsled and luge events at Schoenau am Koenigssee and the snow competitions at Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
As the host of 1972 Summer Games, the city has made much of its ability to utilize existing venues for maximum efficiency.
Three-time Olympic medalist Martina Ertl emphasized Munich's logistical advantages.
"We have all the infrastructure, the winter and we have Alpine World Champion Skiing in Germaisch Patenkirchen," she said. "I think we have all we need for the Olympic Games."
Green Light for an Olympic Village
The path to becoming a host city has been littered with stumbling blocks. Munich's bid for the 2018 Games has been overshadowed by a lack of support and environmental concerns, along with a frustrated search for a place to build the Olympic village, which must house approximately 2500 athletes.
Infighting among private landowners in Garmisch- Patenkirchen has been an ongoing problem as well, but the mayor of Munich, Christain Ude, says the issue has now been resolved.
"We have agreed with German federal authorities who owns the land, so that should Munich be chosen in 2018, the city can buy the land," he told Deutsche Welle.
Ude said the contracts would allow Munich to build an Olympic village directly next to the existing Olympic Park.
"This is one of the great plus points of our Olympic bid: the athletes will be able to walk to the Olympic park and the ice stadium," said Ude.
Few bidders
In July 2011, the International Olympic Committee will meet in South Africa to choose the host for the 2018 event. Final bids are due on March 15. So far, only two other cities have applied: Pyeongchang, South Korea, which lost out to Vancouver and Sochi for the right to host the 2010 and 2014 Winter Games, and Annecy in France.
Should the Bavarian capital be selected to host the 2018 Olympics, it will become the first city in history to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
Author: Sarah Harman
Editor: Rob Turner