A new national poll by the German press agency DPA shows that public support for Munich’s 2018 Winter Olympic Games bid is now at 73 per cent, while opposition to the bid is at its lowest level, falling to 15 per cent.
Thomas Bach, International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice President, DOSB President and Chair of Munich 2018 Shareholders Board, said, “it shows once again the great support we have from the people of Germany, There is no other public project in the country which has generated so much support and encountered so little opposition at such an early stage”.
Katarina Witt, Chair of Munich 2018, called it a marvellous result. She said, “the growing support for our bid gives us motivation and encouragement for the final months of the campaign. It is a great sign to the IOC Evaluation Commission visiting Munich right now.
“The poll results confirms that Germany loves winter sports. The TV viewing ratings and over a million passionate fans attending our annual World Cups and World Championships in winter sports are among the highest figures worldwide. I am really happy that the German passion for sport is now also expressed in an official poll. That will help us to achieve our aim of bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games back to Germany”.
Christian Ude, Lord Mayor of Munich, added, “it has been 80 years since Germany last hosted a Winter Games, so it has taken time to help some people understand what an incredible boost Munich 2018 would be for the entire region. But now we are really building momentum. We are seeing the steady rise in public support we expected”.
