Fifty-nine farmers in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Munich's proposed co-host for the Games, have written a joint letter to the Bavarian state Government calling for the bid to be withdrawn, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported today.

If the state fails to do so by December 22, the farmers will inform the International Olympic Committee (IOC) directly that their land is unavailable, a lawyer representing the farmers claimed.

"All of this land lies within the security zone that the IOC is demanding around the Olympic site," Ludwig Seitz from law firm Labbe und Partner told the newspaper.

But Michael Vesper, the chairman of the Munich 2018 Supervisory Board, said he remained confident about their bid.

"The candidacy is definitely not endangered," he said.

"Venues are virtually uneffected by the refusal of some land owners."

Garmisch, 90 kilometres (55 miles) to the south of Munich, is due to host the majority of the ski events if the German city beats Annecy and Pyeongchang and is awarded the Games when the IOC votes at its Session in Durban on July 6, 2011.

Garmisch, host of the 1936 Winter Olympics, already boasts the infrastructure, including transport links and accommodation, to be able to host the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in February next year.

Siegfried Schneider, Minister at the Bavarian State Chancery, also claimed the issue would not derail Munich's bid.

"The remaining open questions about land will be cleared up and won't damage the bid," Schneider said following a Cabinet meeting in Munich.

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