Munich running for 2018

Good news for passionate skiers on December 8th. In Hamburg the plenum of the DOSB voted unanimously for Munich to apply for the Olympic Winter Games 2018.

The decision over the compact conception “Munich plus two” (Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Schönau am Königssee) will be taken in summer of 2011. What could be the impact on the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships that take place 4 month ahead of this decision, what are the possible consequences for the organizers of this event?

the conception

The feasibility study of the planning agency Albert Speer in Frankfurt shows Garmisch-Partenkirchen as the center of all competitions on snow. “48 decisions over medals would be taken here”, so the statement of an enthusiastic mayor Thomas Schmidt “ we see ourselves as big winners”.
It now became generally known how the Olympics of 2018 could go on in the region of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Ski jump and freestyle would take place in the Olympic stadium, cross country skiing in Klais, biathlon in Kaltenbrunn, snow board at Kandahar and the alpine ski competitions like for the World Championships 2011 at Kandahar and Gudiberg.
In addition would be built a small Olympic village. The “snow village”, built temporarily could host 2000 athletes and 3500 representatives of the media.

a great responsibility

Just now the organizing committee is in the middle of preparation for the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships 2011. Only 4 month later will be decided if Munich gets the chance to host the biggest winter sport event in the world together with Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Schönau. It is probably a unique situation that a region, running for the Olympics, is at the same time organizing a major event that also stands in the international focus.

This again increases the importance of the FIS Alpine Ski Championships 2011 for Garmisch-Partenkirchen and for the application for the Olympics 2018. The managing director of the organization committee, Walter Vogel recognizes the fact as “ a special responsibility for the sports location Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria and Germany”.

the trump card World Championships

The Ski World Championships could be a brilliant showpiece and at the same time a special trump for the candidature to the Olympic Games 2018. The whole world will look at Garmisch-Partenkirchen during that period. “The international focus can help to convince the members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of the application conception put in by Munich. The awarding of the Olympic Winter Games 2018 will take place in the summer of 2011. This gives even more significance to the competitions in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 2011” declares Vogel.

The possibility to host the Olympic games in 2018 encourages the organizing committee to stay with the firm plan of a sustained pattern of utilization for the venues.
The manager of the organizing committee, Peter Fischer sees additional chances for the city.
“Important infrastructural measures for Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the region are coming within reach. The World Championships and the candidature for Olympia should be used for the sports and for tourism to enforce the position of Garmisch-Partenkirchen as a leading
winter sport resort.”