Of the 88 races on the International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine World Cup tour, eight will be staged in Germany, a statistic that Munich hopes will give their bid the edge over rivals Annecy and Pyeongchang when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chooses the host city for 2018 at its Session in Durban on July 6. 

These include the parallel slalom event, which will be returning to the Olympic Stadium in Munich after its spectacularly successful debut in January this year.

"It is wonderful to receive this seal of approval on our venues' quality from the FIS and the tourist figures just underline what an internationally attractive region Bavaria is," said Katarina Witt, the chair of Muncih 2018.

"This past week has highlighted Munich 2018's exceptional offering to every single Olympic family client group.

"Whether you're coming to Bavaria for the sport, or the culture, or the entertainment; whether you're a sports fan, or an athlete, or an International Federation: Munich 2018 has something very special in store for you."

More than 11 million people visited Bavaria during the winter season, new figures released by the Tourist Board reveal - a six per cent increase on last year.


The figure included a record 30 million overnight stays. 

"Sport is such an important factor in making Bavaria a top international tourist destination," said Bernhard Schwank, the chief executive of Munich 2018.

"This season's World Championships and World Cups were watched by over one million spectators, with a television audience of over a billion.

"But being a top international tourist destination also makes Bavaria a hub for world-class sport. We have the infrastructure, the facilities, and most importantly that warmth and hospitality that guarantees full stadia and an incredible atmosphere.

"That's the magic we want to bring to the Winter Games celebration in 2018."

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