Amongst the new ambassadors revealed, there was a strong emphasis on the new generation of German athletes including 17-year-old Anna Schaffelhuber, the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic bronze medallist in Super G; 19-year-old Johannes Rydzek, the Vancouver bronze medallist in Nordic Combined ; 21-year-old Felix Loch (pictured), the Vancouver luge champion; 22-year-old Natalie Geisenberger, the Vancouver bronz medallist in women's luge; and 22-year-old Eric Frenzel, the Vancouver bronze medallist in Nordic Combined - 
 
Willy Bogner, the chief executive, expressed his delight with the addition of the new stars to Munich 2018’s bid.

He said: "Munich 2018 is now supported by 98 sports stars as ambassadors – this must be unique in the Olympic and Paralympic "inter bid process.

"The Olympic and Paralympic Games thrive on spectator enthusiasm and the exceptional achievements of the athletes.

"All of our new ambassadors have achieved extraordinary success in their respective sports and the involvement of such popular stars with Munich 2018 will further fuel the German passion for hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games."

The sheer number and variety of athletes now actively involved in supporting Munich 2018 has delighted the bid committee.

Whilst each ambassador has a different sporting and biographical background, all have a passion for their sport that peaks with participation at the Olympic or Paralympic Games, Munich officials claimed.

Furthermore, each ambassador firmly believes in the values of the Olympic Movement which makes them ideal ambassadors to represent Munich’s bid both nationally and within the Olympic family around the world. 
 
Schaffelhuber said: "This is a great honour for us all.

"As Olympians and Paralympians we know the importance of world class venues and passionate and friendly spectators.

"We are all convinced that the world’s finest winter athletes will find that Munich, Bavaria and Germany will offer the best possible environment to achieve their best performances as well have the most wonderful and memorable time of their lives."

The new Munich 2018 Paralympic ambassadors are particularly inspirational.

Andrea Eskau (pictured) has won medals in both Summer and Winter Paralympic Games - in cycling and cross-country skiing and biathlon.
 
Gerd Schönfelder has won an incredible 21 Paralympic medals and 12 World Championships in skiing events.

Amongst the older Paralympic ambassadors, Josef Giesen won his seventh Paralympic medal for the 12.5 kilometres distance biathlon in Vancouver at the age of 48 typifying Munich’s inclusive approach where everyone in society is welcome to be part of the bid, officials claimed.

Other winter sports stars who have committed to become ambassadors for Munich 2018 are successful speed skaters Jenny Wolf, Katrin Mattscherodt, Daniela Anschütz-Thoms and the former short track skater Yvonne Kunze.

They each hope to give a spectacular display to home crowds at the ice venues in the iconic Munich Olympic Park in 2018 and create an atmosphere of celebration that will rival the passion created by home crowds in Vancouver. 

It is not just stars of winter sports that are lining up to become ambassadors of Munich 2018.

The Bid Committee is especially thrilled with the support of a range of high-profile summer athletes.

For example, Dominik Klein is keen to show his support for Munich 2018 following his experiences as part of the national handball team in the World Championships 2007 held in Germany.
 
Even athletes of non-Olympic sports are keen to show their support for Munich 2018; for example, Kristin Boese, who is the most successful kite surfer of all time with nine World Championships, has become an ambassador of Munich 2018. 


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