Munich 2018 Going for Gold; PyeongChang Leader "Confident But Not Complacent"

(ATR) Munich 2018 chair Katarina Witt says her team is lobbying hard to deliver a winning bid.

The two-time figure skating champion, dressed in a leather jacket, was in bubbly and relaxed mood as she faced the international press again on Monday.

She said the Munich bid had "great momentum" going into the July 6 IOC vote.

"Everybody has put a lot of hard work, thought and passion into it [the campaign]. It is a competition where we want to finish on the podium," she told reporters.

"Sometimes you are happy with silver or bronze. But in this only the gold medal counts."

She revealed that Franz Beckenbauer, the German football legend and former FIFA vice-president, was joining the bid team on Tuesday to boost Munich in the final hours of lobbying.

"He has been part of the board of trustees from the very beginning. We are of course very happy that he is joining to be supporting us," she added.

Asked by Around the Rings about how many IOC members she planned on meeting on the final day-and-a-half of lobbying, she said: "We try to use every second and minute we have to convince the members that we think we do have the best offer for the athletes for 2018."

The media briefing was loosely themed around the athlete-friendly concept promoted by Munich 2018.

Witt emphasized that 125 athlete ambassadors, who had won over 100 medals between them, had helped shape the bid. German Paralympian Verena Bentele, who boasts 12 Paralympic gold medals, took the stage with the legendary figure skater to support the messaging.

Witt talked about having the "hardware", the venues and infrastructure, and "software" in place.

"We think we can fill arenas with the heart and soul of athletes supported by incredible fans," she said.

She also highlighted Munich's established winter sports infrastructure and a passionate, knowledgeable fan base numbering in the tens of millions.

"This season we had 12 World Cups and three World Championships, so it’s been a great winter for athletes who came from all over the world," she said.

Bentele said athletes competing at a Munich Games would have an unforgettable experience.

"The energy and enthusiasm of the crowd is one of the most wonderful things we can give," she said.

"The Munich 2018 venues are already integral to our sports lives in Munich. We know how to deal with big crowds and organize events. From an athlete’s perspective, it’s important to have good infrastructure."

PyeongChang Bid in Confident Mood

The leader of PyeongChang's third Winter Olympic bid said his team was "confident but not complacent" ahead of Wednesday's vote.

The South Korean city is regarded by many Olympics observers as the favorite in the three-city race, with Munich close behind and Annecy the outsider.

Bid chairman and CEO Yang Ho Cho told a packed press conference of around 100 journalists, many from South Korea, that PyeongChang had "listened and learned" from the Olympic family following its two previous bid failures.

He said the country had built on its previous bid promises as part of its 'New Horizons' campaign to secure the 2018 Games, which includes a government commitment to developing winter sports in Korea through its 'Drive the Dream' program. Under the scheme, $500 million will be invested from 2012 to 2017 to develop Korean winter sports athletes.

"We believe it is an important moment for us, for our country, for Asia and for the Olympic Movement," he told reporters at a press conference Monday.

Looking and sounding confident in PyeongChang's bid, having led it for two years, Cho insisted his team was in good shape.

"We are confident and believe our message will get acrossto IOC members. But we are never complacent and will put in our best efforts to the end," he said.

PyeongChang rolled out their big names at the press conference. Also appearing were Korea's sports minister Byoung-Gug Choung, reigning ladies figure skating Olympic champion Yu-Na Kim, Yong Sung Park, NOC president and governor Moon Soon Choi.

Choung stressed the government's support for the bid as a "national priority".

He spoke of South Korea's "special sporting relationship" with Durban, which dates back more than three decades ago when boxer Soo Hwan Hong won the WBA World Bantamweight title at the city's West Ridge Tennis Stadium in 1974.

"Then, in 2010, South Korea advanced to the second round of the FIFA World Cup for the first time on foreign soil after they played in Durban's World Cup Stadium. We believe Durban is a lucky city for South Korea," he told the briefing.

"We believe in the phrase ‘third time lucky’. Here in Durban, our lucky city, we certainly hope that is proved correct."

Kim, appearing relaxed and at home as part of the bid team, paid lip service to the bid's compact venue and accommodations plan that received praise in the IOC Evaluation Commission's report.

"All the athletes participating in the Games would be able to compete in their best condition," she said.

After presenting to IOC members at the technical briefing in Lausanne in May, Kim admitted she felt less nervous about her part in PyeongChang's presentation.

"This is our last presentation so I will try to be perfect," she said.

"I now wish to see a dream come true – PyeongChang's dream. I wish to see PyeongChang win the right to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and help connect winter sports with a young, dynamic and growing population in new parts of the world," she added.

Written by Mark Bisson