The Bid Committee has reaffirmed that, in addition to the compact "Two Park" concept, sustainability is an integral aspect at the very core of planning for the Munich 2018 bid.

The impact of the venue concept on nature is tending to zero and the financial support required is minimal, senior officials involved in the bid have claimed.

The Bavarian capital’s bid is focused on sustainable use of all venues after the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and have again pointed to the Olympic Park, built for when Munich hosted the Summer Olympics in 1972 and which has since welcomed more than 500 million visitors.

This demonstrates the city’s unrivalled potential for forging a long-term sporting, social and financial legacy for the Olympic Movement, they claim.
 
Michael Vesper, the head of the Munich 2018 Advisory Board said: "The sustainability concept of the Munich 2018 bid will set new standards when it comes to creating a lasting Olympic Games legacy. In cooperation with many environmental associations and institutes, we have been able to develop and enhance a groundbreaking sustainability concept.

"This has always been, and will remain, a crucial part of Munich´s plans to host the Winter Games in 2018."

Munich's bid suffered a setback earlier this month when Deutscher Naturschutzring (DNR), an umbrella group of German conservation organisations, withdrew from the Bid Committee after claiming  its plans were environmentally "irresponsible".

But since then Munich 2018 has agreed a deal with landowners in Garmisch-Partenkirchen over being allowed to use their land for the Olympics and Paralympics, claiming it had agreed a clear plan for securing the land required to host the Games.
 
Professor Dr. Ralf Roth of the German Sports University in Cologne said: "Ninety-nine per cent of land required for all venues in the Munich 2018 bid is currently used or is temporarily in use for sports.

"The only additional land we require is 0.48 hectares of meadowland and 0.65 hectares of forest - in total, not even the size of a football pitch.

"Only one per cent of all areas will be modified purely for the Olympic Games.

"That would represent truly world-class standard in sustainability.

"Should Munich be selected to host the Winter Games in 2018, we look forward to being involved and contributing to a major event that will provide a wealth of lasting benefits for Germany and the Olympic family."
 
Munich 2018 claims that it has the support key stakeholders involved in the bid.

Thomas Urban of the German Alpine Association (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV), said: "As a representative of the German Alpine Association I am absolutely convinced that Munich´s concept will enable them to host an environmentally friendly and sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

"We have been evaluating the concept for the past 19 months, and we will work hand in hand with the Munich 2018 Bid Committee to bring it to life in the best possible way.

"The benefits of cooperation with numerous environmental associations and experts in the respective areas speak for themselves.

"We now have an industry-leading ecological concept which goes far beyond the current requirements for major sports events.

"This ambitious plan will set new global green standards in sustainability and environmental protection for global sports events."

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