BMW Choses Katarina Witt as Olympic Ambassador

As a national sponsor for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Munich, German carmaker BMW announced it has chosen Katarina Witt as its ambassador for the event. Now aged 44, Katarina Witt is the two-time Olympic figure skating champion, winning the gold medal in Sarajevo in 1984 and Calgary in 1988.

Witt will be making public appearances on behalf of the BMW Group, will attend the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and will also chair the Munich 2018 Bid Committee.

“The BMW Group espouses the Olympic ideal of fair play in sporting contests,” Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and Marketing, said in a release. “As the world’s most sustainable car manufacturer, we support the idea of a sustainable Olympic Games – both as Automotive Partner of the 2012 Games in London and as a National Sponsor of the 2018 Munich bid. We are delighted to have Katarina Witt’s backing as an ambassador in our bid to bring the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to Munich.”

“Taking part in the Olympic Games is the dream ambition and absolute career high point of any athlete,” added Katarina Witt. “I would like to do my bit to turn this dream into reality in Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen for 2018.”

"I totally embrace and identify with the concept of sustainable Olympic Games that conserve natural resources,” she said “and make use of existing sports facilities. This could be a signal from Munich for future Games. BMW and the Olympics – it’s an alliance that stands for sportiness, tradition, dynamism and a forward-looking approach. BMW and the Munich 2018 bid – it’s a perfect match.”