Munich to bid for 2022 Winter Games

Germany is moving forward with a possible Munich bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The German Olympic Sports Confederation approved a concept based mostly on Munich's unsuccessful bid for the 2018 Games, which were awarded to Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Munich would host indoor ice sports, such as figure skating, while Garmisch-Partenkirchen would stage the Alpine events. Biathlon and cross-county would be held in Ruhpolding and sliding events in Koenigssee. All of the venues are within a two-hour drive from Munich.

Munich is seeking to become the first city to host both the summer and winter games. The Bavarian capital staged the 1972 Summer Olympics, which were shaken by the massacre of members of the Israeli team.

Before a 2022 bid goes ahead, it must be supported by a referendum on Nov. 10 - four days before the deadline for submitting bids to the International Olympic Committee.

Germany's Thomas Bach was elected IOC president this month. German sports officials believe that will improve Munich's prospects of getting the games.

Almaty, Kazakstan, has already notified the IOC of its intention to bid for the 2022 Games. Barcelona, which hosted the 1992 Summer Olympics, is considering a bid and, like Munich, would be the first to host both summer and winter games. Other potential contenders include a joint bid from Poland and Slovakia, and a city in Ukraine.

The IOC will choose the host city in 2015.