Bidding for the Games - Munich Encouraged by IOC Visit

Munich 2018 co-chair Thomas Bach says the bid is encouraged following the IOC Evaluation Commission inspection of the bid last week.

"Before we thought that we have a strong bid that we have something to offer for the Olympic Movement. Before we believed, and now we know."

The German IOC member and German Olympic committee chief made the comments on Friday after the closing press conference.

"This is the first opportunity to show the whole bid together. Here you have the whole bid and this is a great feeling, We felt very much encouraged because when you get to see the whole picture then you also realize much better the strength and the power of this concept."

With the July 6 IOC vote just four months away, Bach says he sees no reason to change any part of its strategy.

"We realized now with the Evaluation Commission that we got obviously these messages across we wanted to get across.

Those messages says Bach are an athlete-driven concept, a chance to host the first Winter Olympics in Germany since the 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Games, and the strong public support for the bid.

"We will continue to convey this message. There may be minor adaptations that we have to analyze carefully this week" he said. "We will also learn a lot from the evaluation commission report but I don’t see any real changes."

Bach also claims his IOC colleagues think favorably of the bid.

"I think there is great sympathy for the bid. You can feel the IOC members have an idea of what Munich, Garmisch could offer the movement. Many of them know Munich and appreciate Munich.

Speaking along with Bach, fellow co-chair Katarina Witt said she is relieved following the four-day visit.

"I’m happy and proud and relived all at the same time. Its been a long week for everyone."

Witt, a gold medalist in figure skating was effusive in her praise of the bid staff, admitting at one point she was "sucking up" to them.

"The team has been rising up to the occasion" she said.

"That has been one of the most gratifications for me is to see the team coming together and how it is coming together and how hard it’s been working."

She says Bach hasserved as a muse during this bidding process. She says she draws on his years of experience within the IOC for guidance

"The next four months will be quite challenging to bring the right message across. You’ve seen every city, each one has their specialties, I hope we were really able to shine with ours."

While she had some concerns prior to the visit she feels everything was flawless.

"I guess you always have concerns for any kind of obstacle that may appear. But at the same time we were prepared to react to this. Everything went smoothly.

"Even the weather god was with us!"

When asked about the potential involvement of fellow figure skater Yu Na Kim for the Korean bid, she said that’s a good thing.

"I am looking forward to seeing her. I think it’s wonderful to have an active athlete involved and I know she’s a role model in South Korea."

Written and reported in Munich by Ed Hula III.