The party leadership decided on the move to have Claudia Roth step down as a member of the Board after a conference voiced environmental and fiscal concerns about Munich's plans

A regular party conference narrowly approved a motion brought by members that described the bid as "ecologically anything but exemplary" and expensive for taxpayers.

Roth had sought to defend her backing for the bid - saying she wanted to ensure that the Games are "as green as possible."

Bach claimed that the Green Party were playing party politics with Munich's bid and were acting undemocratically.

"The time and process of the debate on this comprehensive and complex project, which was scheduled for only a few minutes, clearly show that this was not a democratic debate or consideration of factual issues; instead it appears to be a rejection based on political motives," said Bach, who is also vice-president of the International Olympic Committee.

"For example, there was no consideration of the strong arguments brought forward by the Green Party faction of the Munich City Council, which has already voted unanimously for the bid concept, having been intensively involved in the development of the content; these points have just been wiped off the table.

"We would like to thank our supporters, who narrowly lost this vote, and we will carry on their wishes and implement the environmental and sustainability concept, which is budgeted with over €100 million (£86 million/$137 million).

"The chances of Munich 2018 victory will not suffer from this negative attitude shown by a narrow majority of an opposition party.

"Internationally it is recognised that this concept is, 'The best, and ecologically most sustainable concept, that has ever existed,' as Winfried Hermann, sports spokesperson of the Green Party put it in his speech at the convention.

"On an international level it is well-known, that a vast majority of Germans support the concept, and that the crucial Federal, state and local government parties fully and enthusiastically support Munich 2018.

"That's why we continue to have an excellent chance to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2018 in Germany."



DOSB secretary general and Green party member Michael Vesper also expressed his disappointment at the decision to force Roth (pictured) to resign, which has given a boost to Munich's rivals, Annecy and Pyeongchang.

"With this attitude it would have been impossible to have the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany, which has become a true Sommermärchen [A summer's tale]," he said.

"It is regrettable if the Green Party would turn against its own sports policy and would fundamentally refuse sports mega events in the future."

"The petition that was voted upon, had several mistakes in it, which could not been corrected in a mere 20 minutes debate right before midnight.

"Those Green Party members, who have been actively involved with Munich 2018 in recent months, have come to a positive conclusion.

"Many Greens have helped to implement the high ecological standards we set in the Bid. This remains even after yesterday's narrow vote."

Other bid officials also regretted the Greens' move, they said, but Munich 2018 chief executive Bernhard Schwank said the bid's environmental concept had been well received internationally and "will be consistently implemented" if Munich wins the Games.

"The high proportion of representatives voting for Munich 2018, as well as the 70 abstentions, demonstrate that there was not uniformity of agreement on this subject within the Green Party," he said.

"There is no doubt that Munich 2018 will keep up the dialogue with the Green Party on every political level to sustain the positive and productive cooperation achieved to date."

Katarina Witt, the chair of the Bid, also stated her regret over the subsequent resignation of Roth.

"I regret this decision, but I want to thank Claudia Roth for all her support to date," said Witt.

"As chair of the Board I have lost a very fine sports fan and advisor.

"It seems that Claudia Roth had to take this decision as an outcome of the political vote taken by her party."

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the Greens' decision was "regrettable" and stressed that he will continue pushing Munich's case.

"We saw with the 2006 football World Cup how much prestige our country can win by holding international sports events," said Westerwelle, who is on the bid Board.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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