Newly-crowned Olympic champions Riesch and Viktoria Rebensburg are amongst a host of stars from Vancouver 2010 competing the event at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a key venue in Munich's campaign.
 
The season's finale will see the world's best skiers battling it out for victory in the overall World Cup and in the individual disciplines and Munich is hoping that big crowds will turn out for the event, which will take place until Sunday (March 14).

Riesch, a Munich 2018 ambassador said: "The atmosphere is fantastic.

"I think we're all caught up in winter sports fever after the successful Games in Vancouver.

"This is the perfect showcase for Munich 2018.

"Home races are always special, particularly at the Olympics.

"Winning a medal in front of a home crowd is probably the greatest thing that an athlete can experience."
 
The conditions are ideal and Garmisch-Partenkirchen will demonstrate that it is ready for major events in the future including the Alpine World Ski Championships which it will host next year, Munich officials claim.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which is an hour away from Munich, is due to host all the snow-based events if the city is chosen to host 2018.

Königssee's artificial ice track will also be used for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events.
 
Willy Bogner (pictured), the chief executive of Munich 2018, believes that well-organised World Cup events will help the bid.

He said: "Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a permanent fixture in the racing calendar; athletes and spectators alike are met with world class conditions and enjoy competitive yet friendly sport of the highest standard.

"This is the way it should also be at the Munich 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games."

Bogner claims that the big crowd expected to attend the event will also promote Munich's bid.

He said: "We want to win people over with our vision of a friendly Games; that will get everyone involved with typical Bavarian passion and enthusiasm.

"After all, the fans are part of the concept.

"They create atmosphere, thereby making an enormous contribution to the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) are due to pick the host city for 2018 at its Session in Durban on July 6, 2011.

Annecy and Pyeongchang are also bidding.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected] 


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