Olympic Dreams
December 10, 2007
Munich hosted the summer Olympics Games back in 1972. When it makes its decision in 2011, the International Olympic Committee will determine whether the southern German city will be the first ever to host both the summer and winter Games.
On Saturday, Dec. 8, the German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB) decided it would throw Munich's hat into the ring. No other candidate cities came into question, the committee said.
Three-part concept
The concept, "Munich Plus Two," entails having three centers of competition: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Schönau am Königssee, and Munich itself.
DOSB President Thomas Bach praised the city's presentation, which also included hosting the Paralympic Games.
The opening and closing ceremonies and ice-skating competitions would take place in Munich. Garmisch -- at the foot of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze -- would be the spot for downhill skiing and other mountain events. Bobsled and luge races would take place in Schönau.
Hopes for another "fairy tale"
German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, who is also the sports minister in the German government, praised the "excellent concept, which gives us the chance to win the Games."
Referencing the "summer fairytale" catchphrase used to describe Germany's hosting of the World Cup in 2006, Bavarian Premier Günther Beckstein told the press he hoped 2018 would be known as "Germany, a Winter Fairy Tale."
Munich Mayor Christian Ude told the press that the city looked forward to entering the next phase of competition. He cited Munich's world-wide reputation as a bastion of sports, saying, "We want to be the first city in the world to host both the summer and winter Olympic Games."
The IOC hopes arenas built for each Olympics will be well-used after the games, and Ude said this had certainly been the case for Munich's Olympia Park, post-1972.
The official concept is to be delivered to the IOC by mid-2009. In 2010, official candidates will be selected, and a final decision will be made by 2011. The next Winter Games are set to take place in Vancouver, Canada in 2010. The 2014 Olympic Games will be held in the Russian city of Sochi.