IOC Member Dr Thomas Bach will be involved officially in the future with the German bid for the 2006 World Cup. The former Olympic fencing champion and now sports official promised his support for Franz Beckenbauer on the occasion of the FIS World Snowboarding Championships. "Dr Thomas Bach will support our bid in the future. His experience as an athlete and sports politician will make our task easier", said Beckenbauer, head of the German World Cup bid, after talks at Berchtesgaden.

"We will co-operate on a friendly, informal and open basis", Bach said. "For such co-operation you do not need formalities. It will be an exchange of ideas." The two former athletes have already discussed initial ideas. "I was asked by the DFB whether I would be prepared to help. If I can, I will gladly do so", Bach added.

Beckenbauer announced the bidding committee´s next phase: "Our task will be to present our bid at the FIFA World Gala in Barcelona on February 1. We may well need Dr Bach in order to avoid mistakes."