POSTED: May 26th 2011
NewsUpdate
Munich 2018 out in front -- when it comes to picking team for Durban
KEIR RADNEDGE / Sports Features Communications
LONDON/MUNICH, May 26: Munich 2018 has become the first of the three bids to unveil the make-up of their delegation for IOC Winter Games decision day in Durban, South Africa, on July 6.
German Olympic sports president Thomas Bach and bid chair Katarina Witt will lead a top-level party which includes the Lord Mayor of Munich, Christian Ude, IOC Athletes’ Commission vice-president Claudia Bokel, and IOC honorary member Walther Tröger.
They will be supported by sports ambassadors such as Verene Bentele, Georg Hackl, Rosi Mittermaier, Martin Braxenthaler, Christian Neureuther, and Markus Wasmeier.
Back in Bavaria the bid team has plans to bring local Winter Games fans together in so-called 'public celebration' sites in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Lake Königssee and even a German House in Durban. In the city of Munich. The ‘Fan Mile’ concept, highly popular during the 2006 World Cup, will come to life once again.
Bach said: "The reception [at the IOC] in Lausanne for our presentation was very good. We have the impression that our bid has a real chance of winning on July 6. It is very important for us to have a strong, influential delegation on site so ; having [Germany’s Head of State] Christian Wulff to addres the IOC members will give our vision maximum impact."
Munich fans will be able to watch the bid committee’s final presentation on giant screens at each of the public sites from 8.30am onwards. A full day’s programme of music, expert interviews, background reports and live acts will entertain the audience until the all-important decision at 5pm.
Munich 2018 has also offered fans the chance to travel to Durban with the delegation, with a tour from July 4-7. The tour will include a full schedule of events at German House, climaxing with the decision and an evening with the Munich 2018 delegation.
Witt said "The make-up of our delegation reinforces our messages to the IOC. We couldn’t get all 126 of our sports ambassadors on the plane but many of them will be coming with us to show that this is a bid by athletes for athletes.
"Representatives of all German winter sports federations will reaffirm their total support for our concept. President Wulff will offer his personal guarantee that Munich 2018 has the full backing of every level of government.’
Keywords · Munich 2018 · Winter Olympics · Bach · Witt · Mittermaier
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