Munich Confident of Toppling Front-Runner PyeongChang

(ATR) Munich 2018 chair Katarina Witt says she is "very optimistic" the German bid can beat favorite PyeongChang in the race to land the Winter Games.

"It is difficult to say who is first, second and third. I think it is an open race until the very last second," she told reporters in a conference call Tuesday.

"We will give our best until the end. Every day and every week we have to show the advantages [of the bid]," she added.

Her comments came after the publication of the IOC 2018 Evaluation Commission's report today that appeared to give the Korean bid the edge over Munich and Annecy.

But Munich leaders were in good cheer after the IOC gave mostly positive remarks about the bid across a number of areas.

"They have really addressed our strengths for an athlete-friendly Games," Witt said, noting the Olympic bid plan has been assembled "by athletes for athletes" and good points about the transport system and sustainability in the report.

IOC concerns focused on high hotel room rates for some client groups and Munich's inability to so far acquire one parcel of land at the Kandahar Alpine center.

"If there are criticisms here or there, we see it as something we can just do better," Witt said.

Bid CEO Bernhard Schwank said Munich was still in negotiation with landowners to secure the piece of land but "very confident" of reaching a deal soon. Asked if an agreement would be struck by the time of the IOC's bid cities briefing in Lausanne May 18 and 19, he said: "We will see."

According to the IOC's evaluation report, Munich public opinion poll numbers show just 60 percent support with 15 percent opposed.

Munich bid leaders noted that these figures were recorded inDecember and public support has been rising ever since. The backing of residents in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Sunday following a referendum has certainly boosted the bid.

Witt said that the staging of sold-out world cups and world championships in Munich and Garmisch this year was a better barometer of public support. Schwank said Munich's independent polling in recent months revealed 75 percent of the German public now backed the campaign.

Looking ahead to next week's presentation to the IOC membership in Lausanne, Witt said she hoped the 45-minute pitch followed by a Q&A with members would "really bring out the strengths of the bid".

Written by Mark Bisson