More Friends for Munich; Swiss NOC Solicits Interest; Hambantota 2018

Munich Adds Three Ambassadors, Five Friends

Munich has another three additions to its roster of sports ambassadors.

The bid committee announced Tuesday that Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Müller are behind Bavaria’s push to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The FC Bayern Munich stars are the bid’s 99th, 100th and 101st sports ambassadors but its first from football.

Fellow Bundesliga players Lukas Podolski, Stefan Kießling, Heiko Westermann, Dennis Aogo and Tranquillo Barnetta are in a series of Munich 2018 ads appearing on German TV but have not been announced as ambassadors.

Also Tuesday, Munich announced another five "friends" of its bid.

Aeronautics giant EADS, City Partner München, Eventpool, JMT Mietmöbel and United Ambient Media join a list that now numbers 21.

"In addition to financial support, these businesses are pledging to contribute their expertise, ideas and products to Munich 2018’s bid," managing director of the bid committee Jürgen Bühl said in a statement.

"Companies of all sizes and all industries are seizing the chance to back the bid and the entire German business community is putting its considerable weight behind us."

PyeongChang Announces Pair of Partners

South Korea’s largest carmaker and newspaper association are PyongChang’s newest bid backers.

Hyundai Motors Group donated Monday roughly $450,000 to the country’s campaign for hosting rights to the 2018 Winter Olympics.

A day later, bid leadership announced a sponsorship agreement with the Korean Association of Newspapers, an organization that includes 46 dailies as well as a news agency.

"Their support and the nation’s passionate backing for our bid gives us an extra boost as we prepare for the important International Olympic Committee Evaluation Commission visit to PyeongChang next month," bid chair Yang Ho Cho said in a statement.

The Evaluation Commission led by Swedish IOC member Gunilla Lindberg will visit Feb. 16-19.

Switzerland Gauges Bidding Interest

The Swiss NOC is soliciting interest from cities concerning a future Winter Olympic bid.

Representatives from five different regions attended a Monday meeting in Ittigen, where Swiss Olympic Association president Joerg Schild outlined the requirements a potential host city must meet.

"Olympic Games in Switzerland must be white games, in an alpine landscape, with short distances," he said.

"The federal government also requires proof of sustainability of investments in infrastructure and absolute transparency in the financing."

International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel and International Ski Federation president Gian-Franco Kasper also attended Monday’s meeting. Both are IOC members.

Swiss Parliament will decide if and when to bid in November. If Munich or Annecy wins the 2018 Games, Switzerland is likely to pass on a 2022 bid in favor of 2026, the Swiss Olympic Association statement indicates.

Commonwealth Games Bid Coming from Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka will soon have a logo in its campaign for hosting rights to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Hambantota 2018 announced Tuesday that its bid committee will pull double duty Jan. 30 by unveils its emblem and introducing Nalin Attygalle as its new CEO.

"A key ambition of our bid campaign is to inspire other island, developing and emerging nations – and their people – throughout the Commonwealth since the Hambantota 2018 Games will ensure a legacy not just for our new City and Sri Lanka but for South Asia, the Commonwealth as a whole and the Commonwealth Games brand," Sri Lankan sports minister and bid co-chair Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage said in a statement.

Written by Matthew Grayson.