Allianz Arena in the spirit of the Winter Games - Herbert Hainer: ‘Games have a decades-long impact'

With the 25th Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo starting tomorrow, the Allianz Arena will be lit up in special colours from 17:30 to 20:30. To mark the opening ceremony in Milan's Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, the national colours of the host country Italy and the German flag will be displayed together on the façade of FC Bayern's stadium.

"FC Bayern wishes everyone a fair and successful Games"

FC Bayern president Herbert Hainer: "FC Bayern wishes all the athletes a fair and successful Olympic and Paralympic Games. The torch of Milan and Cortina also throws light on Munich's candidacy: our city is not bidding for a few weeks of sport - but for a decades-long impact: encounters, participation, education. The Olympic and Paralympic Games bring the community of the organising city together and generally promote social interaction - across different backgrounds and generations. They inspire children and young people for sport and also strengthen integration and participation. That is why FC Bayern supports Munich once again becoming a stage for the Games."

Support for the Olympic bid

The Allianz Arena, BMW Park and SAP Garden venues of the German record champions would also be used if the event were to be held. Prior to the positive referendum by Munich residents in the autumn, FC Bayern had campaigned for the bid in a number of ways, including with video clips and statements from influential decision-makers such as Uli Hoeneß, as well as football and basketball players and information stands at its venues. Ahead of the home match against Dortmund at the Allianz Arena, a photo was also taken with Hainer and CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, and the club had invited Bavarian minister president Markus Söder, Bavaria's interior minister Joachim Herrmann, sports mayor Verena Dietl, who was representing lord mayor Dieter Reiter, Jörg Ammon (president of the Bavarian state sports association) and seven adidas Olympic athletes, including sprint legend Gina Lückenkemper, to motivate the fans to vote in favour of bidding for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The team, led by captain Manuel Neuer also lined up behind the banner ‘United for Munich - OlympiJA’.