Katarina Witt and her team brought the bid's Festival of Friendship to the FIS Cross Country World Cup in Düsseldorf, marking the first event in a calendar of elite competitions that will cement Germany's credentials as a world-class host for winter sports events.

Witt, the chair of the Munich 2018 Bid Committee, said: "Munich 2018 is delighted to be here on the banks of the Rhine and to have the opportunity to bring our bid to a global audience.

"The visiting international athletes will see the benefits of competing in a country with a long, proud heritage of staging elite winter sports events and Munich 2018 hopes that these competitions will provide compelling evidence of Germany's hosting capabilities.

"International Federations, National Olympic Committees, athletes and fans alike would all benefit from Germany's incredible expertise should Munich be awarded the 2018 Winter Games."

The FIS Cross Country World Cup was the first of 12 World Cup competitions and three World Championships which will be hosted in Germany this season.



The Munich bid soared into the winter season with the Munich 2018 hot air balloon acting as a beacon for passionate sports fans and generating support for the bid beyond Bavaria.

Over the season, a 50-strong team of Munich 2018 volunteers will spread the Festival of Friendship concept across the rest of Germany with a strong presence at high-profile winter sports competitions.

Munich 2018 sports ambassadors Alexander Spitz, an alpine skiing Paralympic medallist, and Richard Adjei, Olympic medallist in bobsleigh, helped share the Festival of Friendship atmosphere among excited fans by signing autographs and giving out Munich 2018 merchandise.

Bernhard Schwank, chief executive officer of the Munich 2018 Bid Committee, said: "The arrival of a winter season with 12 World Cups and three World Championships in Germany will highlight the fascinating atmosphere and huge enthusiasm for winter sports in our country.

"This competitive environment has developed from a long history of staging global sports events and has produced millions of ardent, knowledgeable winter sports fans.

"These exceptional attributes add real vitality to our bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games."

Munich, Bavaria and Germany have had a significant role in establishing Europe's Alpine region as a heartland of winter sports.

Germany delivers record breaking crowds at winter sports events, year after year, including 30,000 fans for ski jumping in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 90,000 for the annual Biathlon World Cup and a staggering 360,000 for the Nordic World Ski Championships.

In May, a world record 77,000 passionate winter sports fans watched the opening game of the IIHF World Championships in Gelsenkirchen.

Germany's experience of hosting international events has undoubtedly contributed to the success of the national athletes.

Last week, Munich 2018 sports ambassador Maria Riesch's outstanding performance won her first place in both downhill competitions and second place in the Super G at Lake Louise.

Anja Huber won the single and team event at the Skeleton World Cup in Calgary and luger Natalie Geisenberger finished second at the World Cup in Winterberg.

Andreas Kapp and his curling team started the European Championships with three wins in a row.


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