The Bavarian was named as Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Mavericks finals win over Miami Heat, and when he returned home yesterday he was welcomed by about 3,000 fans in a Wuerzburg sports hall and signed the golden book in the city hall.

The fans cheered "MVP, MVP" before Nowitzki got into a motorcade to join an outdoor party expected to draw 15,000 fans.

His backing for Munich is a morale boost as its team, led by 1984 and 1988 Olympic skating champion Katarina Witt, leaves for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session here where the winning city will be chosen on July 6.

Pyeongchang remain ahead, according to the GamesBids.com BidIndex published today, but Munich is closing with Annecy still struggling. 

"It is a tight game," said Nowitzki.

"But I am optimistic that Munich can secure the win with a buzzer-beater in Durban.

"The dream of an Olympic Games has motivated me for years.


"Carrying the German flag into the Olympic Stadium in Beijing in 2008 was such a thrilling moment.

"I can only imagine the emotions athletes will feel when entering the Munich Olympic Stadium under that iconic roof.

"Our passionate crowds in Germany would carry the Olympic ideal out into the world on a new wave of enthusiasm.

"I know that our youth is captivated by the Olympics.

"I felt it when I was giving the German flag to our Youth Olympic Games team last year at the Brandenburg Gate.

"Today's generation of athletes lives the Olympic dream even though Germany has not had the Games for 40 years.

"I hope we get the Games for them in 2018."

Bernhard Schwank, the chief executive of Munich 2018, claimed that Nowitzki demonstrated how important the Olympics is to Germany.

"The German sports family can be proud of this extraordinary athlete," he said.

"He's a superstar in the NBA, but he's still the guy next door.

"At the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, he said that playing in the tournament was a dream come true.

"As Germany's flag bearer, he showed so much passion and truly inspired the entire team."

Meanwhile, a representative poll carried out by the INFO Institute in Berlin revealed that 78 per cent of people nationwide are in favour of hosting the Games, with just 15 per cent opposed.

"This is a great result," said Witt.

"The growing support for our bid among the German public and from our sporting heroes is a strong sign to the IOC and gives Munich 2018 great motivation and encouragement for the final week of the campaign.

"Munich 2018 is a bid by athletes for athletes: our sports stars know what an unforgettable experience we are promising for them and that's why competitors at the very top of their game are giving us such vocal support."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
June 2011: Munich 2018's Winter Olympic hopes boosted by record audiences at Women's World Cup
June 2011: Bavarian Prime Minister to join fans on special Munich 2018 flight to Durban
June 2011: Munich 2018 unconcerned by logo row
June 2011: Volunteers will make Munich 2018 memorable claims Witt
June 2011: Exclusive - Witt hails record German TV figures as proof of passion for Munich 2018