Munich Secures Land To Remove 2018 Winter Games Bid Obstacle

Munich's attempts to bring the 2018 Winter Olympics to Germany received a major lift on Tuesday when officials secured the last piece of property needed for the downhill course.

The deal was announced just one day before Munich presents its bid to the International Olympic Committee and has seemingly killed off the one remaining domestic obstacle to the bid after residents of Garmisch-Partenkirchen recently voted against a bill to withdraw from the 2018 Winter Games tender.

Some landowners in Garmisch-Partenkirchen had refused to hand over their properties for the Games, but having now secured about 3,500 square metres in the latest deal, officials behind the bid have ensured that the skiing events can be staged in the resort if Munich edges out Annecy in France and PyeongChang in South Korea.

“We are very pleased that the land ownership discussions have taken this big step forward,” said Munich bid CEO Bernhard Schwank. “Talks have been progressing quickly and constructively for some time now, and we were always confident that we would be able to find the best solution for all parties. This is further evidence that the people of Garmisch-Partenkirchen are firmly behind our bid.”

Schwank added: “The properties for the sporting events of the 2018 Winter Games now have been 100% secured. Seven years before possibly staging the games we have an optimal offer for the IOC.” The IOC will announce the winning bid in Durban on July 6.

Source: sportbusiness.com