The Bavarian capital is expected to be among the favourites to be awarded the Games if it bids, having been beaten by Pyeongchang in South Korea to host the 2018 event.

But Munich will only put forward a bid if there is a majority backing it at a referendum to be held in the city on November 10, which is only four days before the deadline for candidates to submit their interest to the IOC.

Referendums are also due be held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the counties of Berchtesgaden and Traunstein, where some events would take place.

Bach, a key figure in the last bid where Munich polled 25 votes to Pyeongchang's 63 at the IOC Session in Durban in July 2011, claims that his election to the most powerful position in world sport will help the campaign.

"There will be a referendum and, hearing only a little bit only about the reaction to my election in Germany, it will have a very positive influence on the attitude towards Olympism in general because the reaction has been so overwhelming from the head of the state, the athletes, the political community, the cultural community, everybody," he told insidethegames.

"I think this can also help to create a positive attitude for the referendum."

Thomas Bach played a leading role in Munich's unsuccessful bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics but will have to remain neutral now that he is IOC President






State elections in Bavaria yesterday saw close allies of German Chancellor Angela Merkel claim victory.

Exit polls suggest the Christian Social Union (CSU) won about 49 per cent of the vote, reclaiming a majority in the State Legislature.

If true, it means that Horst Seehofer will retain his position as Minister-President of Bavaria, a post he has held since 2008.

He was an enthusiastic supporter of Munich's bid for 2018.

But Bach, who is due to arrive in Lausanne tomorrow to meet former IOC President Jacques Rogge to conduct an official handover, will not be able to participate in Munich's campaign on this occasion as he will be expected to remain neutral.

So far, only Almaty in Kazakhstan is the only city to declare it will definitely bid.

But bids are expected from Norwegian capital Oslo, Ukrainian city Lviv and a joint proposal from Poland and Slovakia centred on Krakow.

There could also be bids from Barcelona and Stockholm.

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