MUNICH 2018 ANNOUNCES 11TH NATIONAL SPONSOR

Retail giant Metro Group latest addition to high-profile corporate backers

Munich, 28 February 2011: Just one day before Munich 2018 begins an intensive week of presentations, meetings and site visits with the IOC Evaluation Commission, the Bid Committee today confirmed Metro Group, an international retail network, as its eleventh national sponsor.

Thomas Bach, IOC Vice President and President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation, and Lord Mayor of Munich, Christian Ude, joined Munich 2018 CEO, Bernhard Schwank, and Chair, Katarina Witt, at a press conference for the international media in Munich’s historic City Hall this morning.

Thomas Bach emphasised the importance of the link between the corporate and sports worlds in Germany and the momentum it is giving to Munich’s bid to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games:

‘We are very happy about the confidence Metro Group has shown in Munich 2018 by confirming this sponsorship. Metro Group’s engagement in our bid to bring the 2018 Winter Games to Munich is more proof that, not only is Germany’s economy firmly behind the bid, but that there is also a strong bond between business and sports in this country.’

Lord Mayor Ude, who is the official host of the national and international media in the Bavarian capital for the Evaluation Commission, welcomed the gathered journalists to Munich in the City Hall, which will be the media centre for the week: ‘I think it is an excellent start for this vital week to announce another national sponsor for the bid. And it is great to welcome the media to the international press centre here. I am confident that we will have many more positive updates for you in the next few days.’

Two-time Olympic champion and Bid Committee Chair, Katarina Witt, was also optimistic:

‘We’ve worked really hard in the last weeks but now we are ready to deliver. We are very excited. The concept we are going to present over the next week comes from the heart. We hope that our drive and our passion reach the hearts of the Evaluation Commission.’

Munich 2018 CEO, Bernhard Schwank, underlined the significance of the announcement’s timing:

‘It is great to be able to unveil this latest asset for Munich 2018 on the eve of the Evaluation Commission visit. Metro Group’s show of commitment at this crucial time confirms that German business has faith in Munich’s chances of winning this bid. This support will help us a great deal in the coming days.

Metro Group is one of the world’s largest international retail networks, with some 290,000 employees from 180 nations working at 2,100 outlets in 33 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. Munich 2018’s stable of corporate sponsors will provide invaluable support during the Evaluation Commission’s inspection, from 1-4 March.

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