Adam, who had been recruited from his role as head of the Bavarian Tourist Board, had been in the position for 16 months.

He was responsible for marketing, communication and staff.

"It was better for me to be released from management," Adam told the German press agency dpa.

"I want to remain mute about the reasons.

"The development is a pity as I did the work out of idealism. "

A brief statement from Munich 2018 claimed that Adam would continue to be involved in the bid.

It said: "Munich 2018 Bid Committee has today announced that Joint Managing Director, Richard Adam, will be leaving the full-time employment of the Bid Committee but will remain as an adviser to Munich 2018.

"The executive board is now formed of CEO, Willy Bogner, and Managing Director, Bernhard Schwank."

Rumours that Adam did not get on with Bogner, who had been appointed as chief executive last November , and Schwank, the Chef de Mission for Germany's successful team at the Olympics in Vancouver last month, had been circulating for several weeks and it was noticeable that he left Canada early before the Games finished.

At the time, Munich officials had claimed it was because he had to be in Munich to organise a welcome home party for the team.

But, according to dpa, he had not been in the office for two weeks before today's announcement.

A compensation package is currently being negotiated.

"We have deliberately decided to return to the original structure with two only directors," Michael Vesper, the director general of the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB), who is also a key member of Munich's Board, told dpa.

"We and Mr Adam have pledged to keep secret the reasons for his departure."

Munich are one of three bidders for the Games along with Annecy and Pyeongchang.

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

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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