Mronz: Being elected DOSB president could help Munich's Olympic bid

Michael Mronz has said that Munich's Olympic bid could benefit if he is elected as the new head of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB).

Mronz is a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which elects the hosts. Munich is Germany's bidder for 2036, where it faces rivals from India, Qatar, Hungary, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey. If not successful, Munich would also bid for 2040 and 2044. 

 "As an IOC member and president of a national umbrella organization, you have a much stronger presence in the international sports world," Mronz told the Welt am Sonntag paper.

Mronz said that Germany must now "show a significantly stronger and more visible presence internationally" in the race to host the Summer Games.

Mronz, 59, aims to succeed Thomas Weikert, who is not seeking another term, atop the DOSB. The presidential election is in December.

A selection committee from German sport had proposed Mronz for the position but there has also been considerable resistance behind the scenes. Other candidates can declare their interest until October 30.

Mronz said his bid for the top position at the DOSB had both a national and an international dimension.

"Do we want this modernization and reform process within the DOSB, and do we also want to strengthen the Olympic bid internationally at the same time? That is the decision organized German sport must make now," the sports manager said.

"I don't want to be elected just to have a new title on my letterhead. I want to be elected because I have an idea that German sport can rally behind.

"If all you want is more of the same, then I'm the wrong person. If you want progress, meaning you recognize the need for us to position ourselves more strongly as a service provider for the pillars of sport as the DOSB, and if we want to put the interests of sport back at the centre in order to achieve greater acceptance, then this is what I am offering."

Mronz named a strong Olympic bid one of the key elements of his programme.

 "We are now further along in our bid to host the Summer Games than we have ever been since the 1972 Games (in Munich). That is the result of the joint efforts of German sport. Nevertheless, I warn against being careless and taking this for granted," Mronz explained.