Korean President aims to deliver Olympics for Asia

The three candidates for the battle to win the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympics went into full throttle here on Monday just 48 hours away from when they learn their fate. South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak made it clear that a win at the third time of asking for Pyeongchang would not be just for them but for the Asian continent. Munich countered with the announcement that the Kaiser, as football legend Franz Beckenbauer is known, would be turning up to help them. Last but not least French Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno showed up to bolster the French alpine town of Annecy's bid, which despite fighting talk from their irrepressible president Charles Beigbeder, still appears to be battling against the odds. The latest soundbites coincided with the arrival of many of the 100+ International Olympic Committee members, who will decide their fate, as they had been present at fellow member Prince Albert of Monaco's wedding at the weekend. Lee, who is beginning a whistlestop tour of three African countries here, insisted that Pyeongchang's bid was much more about the Asian continent than South Korea itself. "America and Europe have benefited from winter sports, Asia hasn't had that opportunity. I consider this as my duty and mission to deliver this for Asia," said the 69-year-old. Perhaps even more attractive to the IOC members was his belief that by giving the Games to Pyeongchang, the financial benefits could be enormous. "This (Asia) is a region with the most robust and dynamic growth in terms of the economy hence people will enjoy winter sports," he said. "It is our aspiration to become a Mecca for Asians to enjoy winter sports." Beckenbauer, who both captained and coached the then West Germany to World Cup glory in 1974 and 1990 respectively, has been part of the Munich bid for a long time but their bid president and fellow German sporting great Katarina Witt glowed with happiness as she revealed he would be coming. The 65-year-old - who garnered a lot of credit for his stewardship of the hosting of the 2006 World Cup - was seen as instrumental in guiding Germany past hot favourites South Africa to win that bid. "We can deliver the state of the art hardware required for the Games," said Witt, a two-time figure skating Olympic champion for then East Germany. "But we can also deliver the software, which is the heart and the soul." Beigbeder - who only assumed the role in January after predecessor Edgar Grospiron resigned the previous month - would not accept that the race was down to just two candidates. "We have had our problems but they are in the past," said the 46-year-old entrepreneur. "We are determined and united. Whatever happens on Wednesday, we are proud of what we have achieved."