Germany is ready for 2018 Winter Olympics

By Sven Busch Mar 4, 2011, 13:19 GMT

Munich - Germany is ready to host the 2018 Winter Olympics in Munich, the nation's new Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich reaffirmed on Friday.

'Germany is ready for the Winter Games. The IOC should know by now that we are a reliable partner with a stable economy, who protects IOC brand rights and recognizes the World Anti-Doping Code,' Friedrich said as an evaluation commission of the International Olympic Committee completed its inspection of the bid.

Friedrich, who was appointed on Thursday and whose portfolio includes sport, was part of a political delegation headed by Chancellor Angela Merkel which met the Olympians on Thursday night in Munich straight from a government reshuffle in Berlin.

'It was a very, very good evening,' said Friedrich, who along with Merkel ensured the IOC commission of the full political support for the bid.

'We have every chance, after the summer fairy tale we have with the (2006 football) World Cup to now have a winter fairy tale,' Merkel said on Thursday.

'I think the world would be overjoyed if we got to host the Games.'

Munich hosted the 1972 Summer Games and would be the first city to stage the winter event as well if it is elected on July 6 by the IOC over Pyeongchang of South Korea and France's Annecy.

The IOC team toured the venues during its five-day visit, with ice sports due to take place in Munich, ski events in the 1936 Winter Games host Garmisch-Partenkirchen and sliding at Koenigssee.

Several 1972 venues would be used again if Munich lands the Games, including the Olympic stadium, for the opening and closing ceremony.

Apart from seeing the proposed venues and meeting with the political top brass, the IOC delegation heard technical reports from bid officials and also met with opponents of the Games.

Opposition is centred in Garmisch-Partenkirchen which they rate too small to host an event of such magnitude. A group of farmers in the ski resort are also refusing to give up land for events.

Olympic opponents are seeking a local referendum to stop the Games, but surveys indicate that a vast majority in Germany are in favour of having the Olympics.

Munich was the last stop of the evaluation commission which is set to release its report on May 10. While not putting the bidders in a certain order, it is rated an important technical assessment to help IOC members make their voting decision on July 6 in Durban.

Until then, each bidder will appear at international sports conferences and at a technical briefing may 17-19 at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne.

The bid process ends with a final presentation of each candidate before the IOC on election day.

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