Germany has only hosted one Olympic and Paralympic Games, in Munich in 1972. This is an anomaly for a country that has won over 1000 medals in its history. This could be corrected as early as 2036, as several candidates have come forward: Munich again, but also Berlin, Hamburg, and the Rhine-Ruhr region. The next few weeks will be decisive.
Four “gems” to polish
The German Olympic Committee (DOSB) recently adjusted its application process. Initially, it announced that it would carefully review all four applications and select only one to represent Germany in 2036, 2040, or 2044. In the end, there will be no pre-selection process, and all four candidates will be able to present their projects at the General Assembly in the fall of 2026. An approach that much more democratic " according to DOSB boss Otto Fricke, who is particularly confident. " We are now polishing these gems so they can shine even brighter. " he told Deutschlandfunk radio.
The road to the 2026 General Assembly, however, is fraught with challenges. As the DOSB Executive Director pointed out, " In our modern democracy, you don't organize the Olympic Games without the population. " This has already cost several bid projects. In 2013, Munich's bidders to host the 2022 Winter Games suffered a heavy defeat in a public consultation, which killed the project. In 2015, it was the residents of Hamburg who said no to hosting the 2024 Summer Games. Despite the "risk," Munich has decided to play this democracy card again, unlike its competitors (for now).
The turning point of October 26?
The city of Munich has committed more than five million euros to this consultation, a crucial step in ensuring the support of residents and thus building on solid foundations. Mayor Dieter Reiter himself is leading the campaign, highlighting the expected infrastructure benefits with the construction of the Olympic Village in the northeast of the city, the extension of the U4 metro line, and new connections, linking the central station to the airport in 15 minutes. Sport brings people together, no matter where they come from. In these challenging times, this is more important than ever., says the mayor. This is why I support our city's bid for the Summer Olympic Games: we dare to face the future and want to move our city and our country forward. »
Pro-Olympic communications are visible in newspapers, on billboards, in public transport, and on social media. The project is clearly presented: the Olympiastadion for athletics, the Olympic Park for urban sports, a temporary arena for volleyball, equestrian events in the Nymphenburg Palace park and the English Garden, etc. To limit costs and present a responsible project, it is also planned that canoeing and kayaking will take place in Augsburg rather than Munich, while mountain biking would be held in Bad Wiesse. However, the left-wing political parties Die Linke and ÖDP have already expressed their opposition, as has the Bavarian Association for Nature Conservation. Munich residents have the option of voting by mail and in person at one of the 105 polling stations that will be open on October 26. The Olympic destiny of the Bavarian capital—and more broadly of Germany—may be decided on that day.
