The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Organising Committee announced that the two-week event made more than a €5 million (£6 million/$7 million) profit.

The event at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which is also the proposed venue for Munich 2018 alpine events, attracted a record total of 190,000 fans while sales were 20 per cent higher than forecast.

The profits are to be re-invested into regional and national German Ski Federation (DSV) youth talent programmes while Garmisch-Partenkirchen will also benefit with over €1 million (£881,000/$1.5 million) being invested back into the town.

Alfons Hoermann, the President of the German Ski Association (DSV) and President of the Organising Committee, said: "This is a very gratifying conclusion to a successful World Championships.

"It is evidence that we can host a major sports event while also being economically beneficial.

"We have proved that success is possible with the right venues, concepts, and staff in place."

Munich 2018 officials will also be hoping that the positive figures will help them come out on top in a referendum on May 8 which has been called to guage support for the Olympics and Paralympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. 

Thomas Schmid, Mayor of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, said: "This shows that the Winter Games are practicable and manageable here in Garmisch-Partenkirchen."


Meanwhile, a separate report has revealed that Munich welcomed 105 million visitors in 2010, breaking the record amount of overnight stays in the process.

Munich 2018 officials claimed that the figures demonstrate that their promise to the Olympic family that it will exceed the IOC's minimum hotel requirement is one that they can comfortably meet.

In addition, there are plans to develop a further 900 three to five star hotel rooms in the city.

The Westin Grand Munich and the Sheraton Munich have already been recommended as the official Olympic family hotels, with the latter having previously served as the official hotel for FIFA in 2006, for which it gained high praise.

Katarina Witt, the chair of the Munich 2018, claimed that the figures gave even more momentum to their campaign in the build-up to the technical presentation that Munich and its rivals, Annecy and Pyeongchang, are due to give to the IOC in Lausanne on May 18.

She said: "These figures have added to our momentum going into the all-important technical presentation in Lausanne in May.

"They have helped to remind the IOC of our pledge to create a sustainable Festival of Friendship with potentially millions of visitors joining the already large number of knowledgeable and passionate winter sports fans whom we guarantee will fill all Munich 2018 venues as well as the public places and live sites across Germany."

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