About 100 singing supporters greeted the Commission, led by by Sweden's Gunilla Lindberg, while only 30 anti-Games activists also turned out as the 14-member group toured the venue for Alpine skiing and other events.

The Commission had promised to meet with the opponents, who have not been able to muster large turnouts for public displays as there appeared to be only enthusiasm for the Games here.

"I don't know anyone in Garmisch who is against the Olympics,'' said Rosi Mittermaier, the double 1976 Olympic ski champion who is a resident of the resort in southern Germany.

"The Evaluation Commission was enthusiastic.

"You should not make too much of the demonstrations."

Thomas Schmid, Mayor of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, welcomed the IOC Evaluation Commission at the cable car station on the legendary Kandahar ski slope. 

"Today we were pleased to show the IOC Evaluation Commission members the Snow Park concept and the venues in Garmisch-Partenkirchen," he said.  

"Most of the venues exist here today and are ready to host competitions in 2018 - that is one of our strengths for sure.

"The Olympic ski jump and the Kandahar and Gudiberg slopes are venues of the highest international and Olympic standard."

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is one of the three "clusters'" for the planned Games, with sliding events in nearby Koenigssee and ice sports in Munich.



Munich 2018 sports ambassador Christian Neureuther, who represented Germany in three Olympcis, presented the IOC Commission with a video taken on a camera mounted on his helmet as he skied down the Hornabfahrt run on Hausberg mountain.

The venue was most recently used in the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships last week which drew over 130,000 spectators and 30 million TV viewers in Germany. 

"We want to show that Garmisch-Partenkirchen is ready for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – and these existing venues are clear proof," said Neureuther. 

"You can still feel the spirit of the Alpine World Ski Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

"We want to share this atmosphere with the IOC members.

"We will show how Garmisch-Partenkirchen stands fully behind the bid and is ready for a winter fairy tale in 2018."

Anti-Olympic activists nevertheless say the Games are too big for the area around Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which staged the 1936 Winter Olympics.

They also cite ecological concerns.

In addition, a group of farmers in Garmisch-Partenkirchen has refused to give-up land needed for some Olympic venues, including an area near the finish area of the downhill race.

The opponents have promised to keep up their campaign for a referendum against the Games in the build-up to the IOC vote on the host city at its Session in Durban on July 6, where they will choose between Munich, Annecy and Pyeongchang.

"I will write a letter to all IOC members again and explain to them what a referendum is and what it means,'' said Ludwig Hartmann, a Greens politician behind the move.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
March 2011: Munich 2018 emphasises economic potential as IOC Evaluation Commission begins visit
February 2011: Thomas Bach - "Landowers are not a problem" for Munich 2018
February 2011: Munich 2018 unveil giant countdown clock at BMW HQ
February 2011: Bavarian capital basks in blue and white for Olympic 2018 bid
February 2011: Munich 2018 still confident despite Garmisch-Partenkirchen referendum call