The "Green Goals" programme, adopted for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany, emphasises the importance of sustainable sports events.

Environmental experts at the Oko-Institut which created the "Green Goals" programme have worked with Munich 2018 on the initiative.

Theo Zwanziger, President of the German Football Association (DFB) and a member of the Munich 2018 Board of Trustees, said: 'Munich 2018 has set ambitious targets with its sustainability concept and shows perfectly how the environment and sport play alongside side one another through innovative projects.

"The fans in Germany deserve the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in their home country," he said.

"The passion for football and the passion for winter sports in Germany are huge and so I'm crossing my fingers for Munich 2018 on 6 July."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission has praised Munich 2018 for its sustainability strategy, and the chair of its bid committee, Katarina Witt, said: 'In many ways, Germany is already a world-leader in environmental management across a range of fields.

"A Winter Games in Munich would offer the IOC proven expertise and commitment: Munich 2018 can be a platform for setting new standards in green mega-event staging across the Olympic Movement," she said.

"We truly believe in environmental protection as a social ethic – that's why we're committed to staging the first ever carbon-neutral Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and extending Munich's remarkable sustainability story."

The German Federal Government, the state of Bavaria and the city of Munich have committed £104 million ($147 million) towards the carbon-neutral goal.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]