Guessing game begins for Olympics bid cities after IOC pitch

By Sven Busch May 19, 2011, 13:30 GMT

Lausanne, Switzerland - Pyeongchang is being seen as the favourite to win the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympics but Munich hopes it has now done enough to persuade the International Olympic Committee (IOC) it should get the nod.

The two rivals and the French venue of Annecy, which is seen as the outsider, wrapped up their presentations to IOC members in Lausanne Thursday.

The bid cities are now left to speculate on whether some of the positive comments going their way in the corridors and foyer of the Palace Hotel will turn into hard votes in July.

Pyeongchang has won much praise for its bid which may be strengthened by a new financial offensive: a communications budget of 80 million dollars to increase awareness of winter sport in Asia. The South Korean government had already approved 500 million dollars for its sport promotion programme 'drive the dream.'

Munich bid chief Bernhard Schwank said the race to host the Games was 'completely open,' while two-time Olympic figure skating champion Katarina Witt said Munich had become 'a real alternative.'

Witt, as the face of the Munich bid, could yet become an important factor for the German city, which is hoping to become the first hosts of a summer and winter Games

IOC marketing chief Gerhard Heiberg said 'Pyeongchang 'showed emotion for the first time' but Witt could attract votes for Munich.

'She is very well, very well prepared. Of course, she is good for a few votes. In the end IOC members do not decide with their heads but their hearts,' he said.

Swiss member Denis Oswald said: 'The South Koreans were not typically Asian but very relaxed and very emotional. A very strong bid. But in the end a person such as Katarina Witt can make the difference.'

Witt has been matched in Lausanne by Pyeongchang's own figure skating star, Kim Yu Na, gold medallist at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, who was also on hand to boost the South Korean bid.

The three candidates had presented their bids in 45-minute sessions to 89 of 108 IOC present at a technical briefing behind closed doors in the Olympic Museum on Wednesday.

IOC members had the opportunity to visit the bid cities' exhibitions Thursday. While the candidates lobbied IOC members in the hotel foyer, Olympic officials were able to inspect the bid cities' concepts in a downstairs area - the Munich stand complete with traditional Bavarian dress, jugs of beer and pretzels.

'The feedback has been very encouraging. Our message has come across,' said Thomas Bach, head of the German Olympic sport movement and an IOC vice-president.

IOC president Jacques Rogge has praised 'impressive presentations' from all three cities and said he expected a close race when the host city is elected in a secret ballot by the IOC on July 6 in Durban, South Africa.

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