"It is the other way around.

"We want them and that is a major difference.

"There are certain rules and we can think about them however we want to but if we want to have the chance to present ourselves through the IOC to three billion people globally there are certain clauses in the contract.

"Some would say it is an oppressive contract, some say that is how business is done.

"If we want the Olympics then we have to accept it."

Former Germany captain and manager Franz Beckenbauer is among the high-profile backers of Munich's bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics

Among the high-profile backers of the bid are Franz Beckenbauer, the only footballer in history to win the FIFA World Cup both as a captain and manager, and who played more than 400 games for Bayern Munich. 

"From my feeling and experience I can say, we need the Games," he said 

"Money cannot pay for the gain in image [staging the Olympics brings]."

But NOlympia, an organisation which opposed Munich 2018 and is campaigning against the 2022 bid, claimed the Games were not worth staging and are a drain on the local economy.

"NOlympia is against the bid because this candidacy is not decided here," said Axel Doering, its spokesman.

"Big investors arrive suddenly, influencing the normal development of these areas.

"There are major interventions in nature and the environment to be expected.

"They want unlimited loss guarantees.

"Coverage of unlimited deficits even if fewer people come, even if there is not enough snow."

Anti-Munich 2022 NOlympia are trying to get enough support to stop a bid for the Winter Olympics and Paralympics from the Bavarian capital

A clear referendum result in favour of the Games would be a major boost for Munich before the deadline for cities to declare set by the IOC of next Thursday (November 14).  

If, however, any of the four communities vote against it then the bid is unlikely to be approved.

Several candidates have this week come forward to declare that they are bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, joining Almaty in Kazakhstan, who had declared in September that they were candidates.

Among them is the Norwegian capital Oslo, whose residents had voted to back a bid in their own referendum in September.

Other cities to declare they want the Games are Lviv in Ukraine and joint bids from Beijing and Zhangjiakou in China and Poland and Slovakia with Krakow as its centre.

Sweden's capital Stockholm will make a decision at the start of next week about whether they bid or not.

Munich Mayor Christian Ude believes the city should bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, believing the lack of other Alpine candidates gives it an edge

Munich Mayor Christian Ude claimed the lack of other Alpine cities bidding presented a huge opportunity for Munich, a traditional winter sports hub with the nearby Alps.

"Everyone must look at the pros and cons and decide for themselves," Ude said.

"The city, the State and the Tederation have come to the conclusion, already from the previous bid, that the pros clearly outweigh the cons.

"This is a unique chances, exactly 50 years after the summer Games of 1972, to become the first city to also host winter Olympics."

The result of the referendum is expected to be announced between 7 and 8pm CET.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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