Munich 2018 Bid Wins City Council Backing

(ATR) Munich 2018 bid leaders clear a major hurdle in their quest to secure the Winter Olympics, after the city council today gave their near-unanimous support for the candidature file.

Despite fears the Greens would oppose the bid book draft over environmental concerns, 75 city councilors voted in favor with only six against.

But the bid book is still subject to approval of the city council of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, who will hold a vote on the candidature file and the Berchtesgadener Land on Oct. 11.

Munich 2018 chair Katarina Witt said Wednesday's vote was an important endorsement for the bid.

"This vote will send a powerful signal to the Olympic Movement of the growing support at every level for Munich 2018," she said in a statement.

"We now have the foundation to build real momentum toward the final vote at the IOC Session in Durban next year."

Siegfried Benker, head of the Green Party in the Munich City Council, claimed the 2018 Winter Games will be ecologically sound.

"The Green city council members are convinced that the environmental and sustainability concept of the bid comprises great projects which make it possible to combine mega-events like the Winter Games with ecological responsibility.

"Munich has the chance to stand as an example for other big cities hosting such large scale events."

Today's decision follows a rocky few weeks for the bid. A land dispute in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and criticism from environmental groups have threatened to derail the campaign.

A settlement was reached with private landowners to stage alpine events in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and work on the bid's environmental legacy plan has addressed most of the concerns raised by conservation groups.

Under the bid's two-park concept, ice competitions will take place in Munich and snow competitions in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, about one hour south of Munich. Bobsleigh, luge and skeleton will be held at the sliding center at Lake Königssee in the Berchtesgadener Land.

Munich 2018 CEO Bernhard Schwank said: "We are confident that our two-park concept, our meticulous planning and our environmental and sustainability concept will also convince the council of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the district council of the Berchtesgadener Land and our shareholders assembly."

Munich City Council's backing for the bid book comes just two weeks before the bid's first international presentation to the Olympic family at the Association of National Olympic Committees general assembly in Acapulco, Mexico.

With reporting from Mark Bisson.