POSTED: Wednesday March 23rd 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MUNICH 2018 PLEDGES 'BEST OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE' FOR MEDIA

Bid Committee presents 2018 Winter Games media concept at AIPS Congress

23 March 2011, Seoul, South Korea: Munich 2018 today outlined a visionary media concept guaranteeing the ‘best Olympic experience’ for broadcasters and journalists at the 2018 Winter Games, in a presentation at the 74th International Sports Press Association (AIPS) Congress in Seoul, South Korea.

Munich 2018 took the chance to share its Games-time media operations plan with over 200 of the world’s most influential sports journalists, highlighting the crucial role that the media play in shaping the story and image of the Games. Jochen Färber, Munich 2018’s Communications and Media Relations Director, emphasised the importance attached to the media as a client group in all aspects of Munich 2018’s planning. He also presented key strengths of Munich’s bid from a media perspective, including their proposal for a truly world-class IBC/MPC at the Messe München International Trade Fair Centre - acclaimed venue for the IBC/MPC at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and 40 other regular international events.

Speaking en route to Munich 2018’s presentation to the ONOC General Assembly, Munich 2018 Chair, Katarina Witt, underlined the Bid Committee’s understanding of the media’s pivotal role in ‘uniting our world in friendship and peace through sport’:

‘Without the media, the world would never hear the great and inspiring stories of athletic triumph that unfold at the Games. Munich will offer the best possible working environment for the Games in 2018 with a tried and tested world-class IBC/MPC in the city and a purpose built modern facility in the mountains. Furthermore, Munich 2018 promises the best possible Olympic experience overall, with a Festival of Friendship unfolding right outside the Media Villages and hotels where journalists will stay.’

In his powerful presentation at the AIPS Congress, Jochen FÓ“rber gave an insight into the cutting-edge working environment media could expect at Munich 2018:

‘Munich 2018 makes promises that will be kept. In Munich in 2018 there will be free WIFI internet access as well as free public transport for the media, as we showcased during the FIS World Championships last month. The state-of-the-art IBC/MPC will be serviced by transport shuttles running 24/7 to ensure that everyone can move easily, efficiently and cheaply between all major sites during the Games. Convenience and comfort are Munich 2018’s top priorities to ensure that everyone has a great time at the Festival of Friendship in Munich in 2018.’

Bavaria’s experience in welcoming the world’s opinion-formers at international sports events will undoubtedly benefit the media should the Games come to Munich in 2018. The proposed IBC/MPC served the 15,000 accredited staff brilliantly at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany - in two months of 24/7 operation, there was not a single significant technological breakdown. Munich 2018 has also proposed a brand new Snow Media Centre in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. During the Games it will provide the same cutting-edge facilities as in Munich, before being transformed into a Centre for Sustainability after the Games, ensuring a valuable environmental legacy for the entire region.

Munich 2018’s vision for integrating media from all over the world into Games-time planning is further proof of the Bid Committee’s mission to create a holistic Festival of Friendship atmosphere. The Munich 2018 Bid Committee is preparing for a series of international presentations to the Olympic family in the lead up to the IOC host city decision on 6 July 2011 in Durban, South Africa.

Background
Munich, in collaboration with Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Berchtesgadener Land, is applying to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The application will be put together and managed by Bewerbungsgesellschaft München 2018 GmbH, with Katarina Witt as Chair, Bernhard Schwank as CEO and Jürgen Bühl as Managing Director. Shareholders in the application organisation are the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) with 51 per cent, the City of Munich (30 per cent), the Free State of Bavaria (nine per cent), the market town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen (eight per cent) and the district of Berchtesgadener Land (two per cent). The bid is being supported by national sponsors Adidas, Allianz, the BMW Group, BayWa, Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Post, Flughafen München GmbH, Lotto Bayern, Deutsche Lufthansa AG, METRO GROUP, and the Sparkasse Finance Group, along with national suppliers ARGE (Albert Speer & Partner and PROPROJEKT), Deloitte, Getty Images, GfK Verein, IMMO 2018, Messe München GmbH, Norton Rose LLP, Munich Olympic Park, pilot sport and Stadtwerke München GmbH. More information about the concept, the progress of the application and many other aspects can be found at http://www.muenchen2018.org.

Bewerbungsgesellschaft München 2018 GmbH
Munich 2018 Bid Committee
Olympiapark München
Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21
80809 München

Responsible for contents:
Bernhard Schwank and Jürgen Bühl

Press Contact:
Simone Seefried
Agnes-Pockels-Bogen 1
80992 München
Telephone: +49 89 540428-313

Mobile: +49 176 840 532 26
E-Mail: presse@muenchen2018.org

Online Press Area:
http://www.muenchen2018.org/en/press

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Keywords · Munich 2018 · Katarina Witt · Jochen Farber · AIPS · Seoul ·

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Name: Simone Seefried
Organization: Munich 2018 Bid Committee
Email:
Phone: 4989540428317
URL: http://www.muenchen2018.org

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