Berlin, September 26 (QNA) - Germany's Olympic Sports Confederation on Saturday chose Munich as the country's candidate to bid for the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The move sets the stage for the International Olympic Committee to make the final host-city decision at a later date.

Munich's bid prevailed over a competing proposal from the Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr region during an extraordinary general meeting in Baden-Baden.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gave his endorsement to Munich's candidacy, expressing hope that Germany would once again host the Olympic and Paralympic Games and experience great successes and moments that won't be forgotten.

Munich's latest bid follows two abortive attempts to host the Winter Olympics, in 2018 and 2022. With this pitch, Germany is making its eighth attempt to put forward an Olympic bid since 1972, when Munich hosted the Summer Olympics.

The move gives Munich a new opportunity to push the envelope in its bid to bring the Games back to Germany, while putting the city's Olympic ambitions under the international spotlight. (QNA)