The curtain has just come down on the World Championships in Garmisch, which went off without a hitch and in the best possible way, earning the approval of athletes, fans and organisers alike.
Commenting on the organisation of the World Championships, FIS President Gian Franco Kasper said: “I looked for something to criticise, but I didn’t find it”.
Bolstered by this endorsement, Germany is ready for the final sprint ahead of the awarding of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, for which Munich is the candidate city.
On the German snow, then, all eyes are now on the visit of the IOC commission, scheduled from March 1 to 4 for all the necessary checks.
Munich, however, has an exceptional patron on its side: Katarina Witt, double Olympic champion at Sarajevo 1984 and Calgary 1988.
On this subject, the figure skater, who heads the ‘Munich 2018’ Committee, stresses how well suited the city is to hosting the event: “Garmisch and Munich have a genuine tradition in winter sports”. And she continues: “It is a real art: organising, knowing how to sell tickets, filling the stadiums. Just look around. What other country organises so many top-level international events?”.
This highlights the country’s tradition and culture in winter sports and in organising sporting events of worldwide appeal, which are undoubtedly strengths in Munich’s favour, even though the commission assesses many aspects, including technical ones.
Munich is competing for the honour with Annecy (France) and Pyeongchang (South Korea).
After the inspections, the IOC commission will publish its report for the members of the International Olympic Committee, ahead of the election of the host city, which will be announced on July 6, 2011, during the 122nd IOC Session in Durban, South Africa.
Only then will we know which city has been chosen for the 2018 Winter Olympics.
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