(ATR) As FIS World Cup alpine racing continues this weekend with ladies races in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mayor Thomas Schmid tells Around the Rings that he would like to see another bid for 2022, but there is uncertainty at the moment.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen was preparing and planning on hosting alpine and other mountain venue events as part of the Munich 2018 bid. The IOC awarded the Games to Pyeongchang, South Korea last July 6.
"It was a large disappointment when the decision was made for South Korea," Schmid told ATR during men’s races last weekend.
"There were a lot of hopes and many people were very disappointed, even those who were kind of critical of the bid saw that the large infrastructure project was closed down from one day to the next and they realized what was connected to the Olympics."
Schmid referred to construction of tunnels in nearby Oberhau and Partenkirchen as examples, both of which were abruptly halted following the IOC decision.
"Planning and construction of the tunnels stopped and those people realized the Olympics would have helped to finalize all these huge infrastructure projects," he said.
Last February, the 1936 Olympic host city staged the nearly two-week long Alpine Ski World Championships amid optimism about the possibility of hosting the 2018 Games.
Despite the loss to South Korea, the winter sports town continues to hold major winter sports events, as is customary everysnow season.
On Saturday, Garmisch will host a ladies downhill, while a super-G is scheduled for Sunday.
Last weekend, the Bavarian town hosted a men’s downhill. A super-G was canceled due to heavy fog on the Kandahar course.
Stephan Keppler, 29, is Germany’s best downhill racer and a resident of Munich.
"Most of the people in Munich and Garmisch were really disappointed," said Keppler. "I felt that the whole country really hoped for the Games."
"In 2018, I will be 35, so it was perfect for me and in 2022, I’m not sure if they will try again," he said.
In regards to a possible bid for 2022, Schmid says he’ll have to be patient.
"Personally I hope that it happens, but I don’t think it will because the German Olympic Sports Federation has to make the first decision and they’ve put it on hold for the moment."
"They haven’t really decided against it, but at the moment circumstances are not as far developed as things should be," he said.
The IOC deadline for 2022 Winter Olympic bid submissions is in late 2013.
"I think there will maybe be another discussion in 2013, but at the moment there is really no discussion about it," Schmid said.
Written by Brian Pinelli.
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