SOUTH AFRICA: OLYMPICS - Leaders of Munich's bid to hold the 2018 Winter Olympic Games speak of sustainability and ecology

Record ID: 453118

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: OLYMPICS - Leaders of Munich's bid to hold the 2018 Winter Olympic Games speak of sustainability and ecology
  • Date: 4th July 2011
  • Summary: DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (JULY 3, 2011) (REUTERS) MUNICH 2018 OLYMPICS BID NEWS CONFERENCE MUNICH 2018 WINTER OLYMPICS BID POSTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO) OF THE MUNICH 2018 WINTER OLYMPICS BID, BERNHARD SCHWANK, SAYS: "It is the concept we have. I think it really is made by athletes for athletes. Our bid is a sports-driven bid as we have always mentioned in our previous presentations.This concept is based on an environmental and sustainable concept which is one of our real strengths: no 'white elephants' anywhere after our games in 2018. We have a great support by our athletes; by our sports community; by the government -- as we heard; by the corporate community. We have great experience in hosting such great winter sport events -- not only winter, but summer as well. But remember last season, last winter we had these great championships and world cups which demonstrates that we have really this magical atmosphere in our stadiums, with these knowledgeable fans. With this winter sport spirit you need to give the best stage for the athletes and that I think is what we want to present to the IOC on July 6" JOURNALISTS ON THE STREET, MAYOR OF MUNICH CHRISTIAN UDE SHAKES HANDS WITH A TRADITIONALLY-DRESSED RICKSHAW DRIVER (SOUNDBITE) (English) MUNICH MAYOR, CHRISTIAN UDE, TELLS REUTERS: "We are the first city of the world, when we get the games of 2018, which has the opportunity to organise the winter games after summer games and we offer the opportunity to give an example of Olympic sustainability, because our Olympic park from the games of '72 has now a history of four decades of after-Olympic use for sports events and we can renew the park and give an example of ecological renovation and we will start a new period of another 40 years of sports use" DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE GERMAN OLYMPIC SPORTS CONFEDERATION AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE MUNICH 2018 SUPERVISORY BOARD, MICHAEL VESPER, TALKS TO COLLEAGUE (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE GERMAN OLYMPIC SPORTS CONFEDERATION AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE MUNICH 2018 SUPERVISORY BOARD, MICHAEL VESPER, SAYING: "We have a very great ecological vision. We would like to organise first-in-history carbon neutral games, so that we don't produce CO2 (carbon dioxide) in our atmosphere and that is a very big task, but we will achieve it" MUNICH 2018 POSTER
  • Embargoed: 19th July 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa, South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAEXIRYZFVXZOC12TG3TNFG82
  • Story Text: Leaders of Munich's bid to hold the 2018 Winter Olympic Games said on Sunday (July 3) they would produce a sustainable and ecologically-sound event.
    They were speaking in South Africa ahead of Wednesday's (July 6) official presentations and International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote in Durban, which will also involve Annecy of France and South Korea's Pyeongchang.
    The Chief Executive Officer of Munich's bid, Bernhard Schwank, told a news conference: "It is the concept we have. I think it really is made by athletes for athletes. Our bid is a sports-driven bid as we have always mentioned in our previous presentations.This concept is based on an environmental and sustainable concept which is one of our real strengths: no 'white elephants' anywhere after our games in 2018. We have a great support by our athletes; by our sports community; by the government -- as we heard; by the corporate community.
    "We have great experience in hosting such great winter sport events -- not only winter, but summer as well. But remember last season, last winter we had these great championships and world cups which demonstrates that we have really this magical atmosphere in our stadiums, with these knowledgeable fans. With this winter sport spirit you need to give the best stage for the athletes and that I think is what we want to present to the IOC on July 6."
    Munich is hoping to become the first city to host the summer and winter games, having hosted the 1972 Olympics.
    The Mayor of Munich, Christian Ude, told Reuters: "We are the first city of the world, when we get the games of 2018, which has the opportunity to organise the winter games after summer games and we offer the opportunity to give an example of Olympic sustainability, because our Olympic park from the games of '72 has now a history of four decades of after-Olympic use for sports events and we can renew the park and give an example of ecological renovation and we will start a new period of another 40 years of sports use."
    The director-general of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and chairperson of the Munich 2018 supervisory board, Michael Vesper, was a founding member of Germany's Green Party and he talked on Sunday of the environmental aspects of the bid.
    "We have a very great ecological vision. We would like to organise first-in-history carbon neutral games, so that we don't produce CO2 (carbon dioxide) in our atmosphere and that is a very big task, but we will achieve it," said Vesper.
    Munich and Pyeongchang are widely regarded as the front-runners because Annecy has battled several problems, including the departure of its chief executive Edgar Grospiron, who resigned last December after complaining of a lack of funds.
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