Allianz - founded and headquartered in Munich - has a long tradition of supporting the Paralympic Movement and they hope to combine this expertise with areas such as security, risk management, environment and finance, to assist Munich 2018 in preparing the best possible bid for the Games. 

Joseph K. Gross, the Head of Group Market Management at Allianz SE, said: "It would be wonderful if we could bring the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to the hometown of our company and with our expertise as one of the largest financial companies in the world, we are happy to be able to support the bid as a 'knowledge partner'."

They join a group of sponsors that already includes Adidas, BMW, Lufthansa and Finanzgruppe who have already signed-up to back Munich's campaign to become the first city in Olympic history to host both the Summer and Winter Games.

Munich 2018 will benefit from Allianz specialist skills in areas of critical importance to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and their know-how in Paralympic sports.

Allianz already supports the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the German Paralympic Association, and their specialist knowledge in Paralympic sports will see the bid pioneer new standards of accessibility and inclusion in preparation for the 2018 Paralympic Games, Munich officials claimed.
 
Willy Bogner, the chief executive of Munich 2018, said: "The addition of Allianz as a new partner, will unite some of the biggest German companies in the world in their support of Munich 2018, showing the power of the bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

"Preparations are on track and with help of experts from Allianz, a long term partner of international Paralympic sports, we can build on our preparations to create the best possible conditions in which to host the Paralympic Games."
 
Christian Deuringer, the Head of Global Brand Management at Allianz SE, is thrilled about the opportunity of becoming involved in the bid for Munich 2018 Paralympic Games.
 
He said: "The exemplary attitude of Paralympic athletes and the values of the Paralympic movement deserve more attention, and we will work on this with Munich 2018.

"It is our aim to transport this enthusiasm for Paralympic sports across all of Germany."

Yesterday, more than 30.000 fans filled Munich’s Allianz Arena for an season-opening friendly football match between FC Bayern Munich and a Winter-stars team staged to give public and financial support to Munich’s bid to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. 


 
Bogner coached the team of Winter-stars which contained several Olympic and Paralympic champions, including Munich 2018 ambassadors Felix Loch, gold medallist in the Vancouver 2010 luge competition, and Gerd Schönfelder, a multiple Paralympic champion in skiing. 

Bogner judged the day an outstanding success - even though his side lost 11-1 to the Bundesliga champions and European Cup runners-up.

He said: "We are so fortunate to have such a strong relationship with our world famous, local club.

"As a sportsman, I am naturally competitive but today my team was really up against it.

"However we won in other ways as Munich 2018 has greatly benefitted from this incredible show of local fan support.

"In addition, the earnings from the match gate receipts will go towards the Munich 2018 bid campaign in the critical months ahead." 


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