Bidding for the Games -- Munich 2018 Response to Critics

(ATR) A report from Munich 2018 aims to debunk 18 objections to the Winter Olympic bid – while bid leaders vow better communication.

"We have learned a lot. I think, now we are up to a good way", assured Michael Vesper, the chairperson of the supervisory board of the bid committee and general manager of the DOSB, the German Olympic Sport Alliance, Germany’s NOC.

While Munich won praise from an IOC report last month, the bid is taking some knocks on the local level. The biathlon and cross country course was moved this month after a petition drive and the refusal of landowners in Oberammergau to come to terms with bid organizers.

Landowner indifference to needs of the Olympics also threatens to cause problems in Garmisch Partenkirchen, the center for the snow sports, one hour south of Munich.

Last week, bid CEO Willy Bogner lost his request for more government support to make up for corporate backing that may have peaked.

"Such a process never goes smoothly," said Vesper at a news conference Tuesday in Munich, pledging with bid general manager Bernhard Schwank, "to improve the situation".

Vesper and Schwank have written an 11-page report that lays out a response to critics who have come up with a list of 18 objections to the bid, ranging from economics to environmental.

The report is available online at theMunich 2018website, www.muenchen2018.org/presse/pressemitteilungen .

Schwank and Vesper say the 18 objections are based on incorrect information and misunderstandings. Vesper admits the bid needs to communicate better, especially with the residents of Garmisch, where opposition to the bid may be on the rise.

Munich 2018 needs the consent of about 78 property owners for the Olympic Village and media facilities. But landowners are balking, despite offers of leases of 15,000 euros per hectare, per year and a promise to restore the land to previous condition.

The bid wants these landowner agreements in hand so that they can be included in the bid book due atthe IOC Jan. 11, 2011.

"We want to put no pressure on anybody, nor are we able to exercise pressure," said Schwank about the cajoling taking place with the Garmisch landowners.

"But the faster we make an arrangement with the affected persons, the better," he says.

Regardless of the difficulties in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Vesper and Schwank reject expanding the number of cities and communities involved in the bid.

Ludwig Hartmann, a Bavarian member of parliament for the Greens Party is one of the leaders in the NoOlympia anti-bid movement. In a letter written earlier this month to IOC President Jacques Rogge, Hartmannsays residents of towns included in the Olympic bid don’t see the need to host the Games.

"It is the host towns which lose on all accounts both in a financial capacity and more importantly in the lasting devastating damage to the natural environment which our children will inevitably inherit. As long as this event is focused solely on mercenary financial tactics for gain it will always be at the expense of mankind and Mother Nature," writes Hartmann.

Schwank says the bid is ready to meet with any opponents.

"You have to look for dialogue and reach out to people," he said.

"We remain confident that we can have good discussions with the property owners," said Schwank, who says communications efforts will increase in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and that plans for the Games will be posted.

"We take the concerns and discussions with farmers and landowners in Garmisch - Partenkirchen, very seriously," said Schwank.

Munich is bidding for the 2018 Winter Olympics along with Annecy, France and PyeongChang, South Korea. The IOC chooses a host next July 6.

Written by Ed Hula with reporting from Germany by Heinz Peter Kreuzer