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IOC boosts Munich bid to host 2018 Winter Olympics

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IOC boosts Munich bid to host 2018 Winter Olympics
Photo: DPA

Germany’s bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics received a boost on Tuesday with news that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) rates it nearly as highly as the favourite, South Korea, it emerged on Tuesday.

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The IOC’s 119-page initial report on the three contenders – Munich, Pyeongchang and France’s Annecy – suggests all could host a successful Games, but puts the first two ahead of Annecy on technical provision.

The encouraging news comes just two days after people in nearby Garmisch-Partenkirchen voted in favour of co-hosting the Games with Munich, despite an active campaign against the Olympics in the Alpine area.

The first referendum on Sunday came out 58.07 percent in favour of continuing the Olympics bid, with a participation rate of 59.64 percent, delighting bid organisers.

“This is a good day for Garmisch-Partenkirchen,” said Mayor Thomas Schmid. “It is a convincing vote. We now know what the people want.”

The result was also a clear relief for the German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB), said president Thomas Bach.

“A clear majority of the Germans want the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2018 in Munich, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and on the Königssee,” he said.

The vote should also be a positive factor for the IOC, said Bernhard Schwank, manager of the bid association.

“We now have the wind at our backs for the next two weeks,” he said with an eye on the technical presentations due to be made to the IOC in Lausanne later this month.

A final decision will be announced on July 6 in Durban, South Africa.

DAPD/DPA/hc

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