"Are you in favor of Munich applying to host the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, 2040, or 2044?" This is the question that the residents of Munich had to answer. 1,1 million locals were asked to vote, in a polling station or by mail, until Sunday at 18 p.m. Some 460.000 people voted, far more than in the previous Olympic referendum (310.000 people in 2013). The verdict is clear: the Ja won by a landslide with 305.201 votes, against 154.207 for the No.
“Games, sustainability and common sense are not incompatible”
Le Ja came out on top in all 25 of the city's districts, where approval ratings ranged from 61,7% to 71,7%. This was a straightforward response, with no significant geographical disparities, which will facilitate the candidacy's progress. Bavarian politicians campaigned extensively, relying on media outlets such as FC Bayern and its stars, with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at the forefrontIt must be said that victory was not a foregone conclusion: in November 2013, a referendum had already been held on the subject of a bid for the 2022 Winter Games and the no vote won with 52,2%The scope of the Summer Games and the project presented for the occasion seem this time to have convinced and relegated to the background the fears linked to the cost of the event.
« The Olympic and Paralympic Games are much more than a major sporting event. They are a sign of confidence in our country and in all of us. We can prove that a great Games, enthusiasm, sustainability, and common sense are not incompatible. ", assured Klaus Holetschek, a member of the Bavarian Parliament. Almost all the infrastructure already exists, which will considerably limit expenditure. An argument hammered home by the camp of Ja, which also promises lasting benefits for the city and its inhabitants.
A plus for housing and transport
Markus Söder, the Bavarian Prime Minister, highlighted the role of the Games as an accelerator for housing and transport projects, whether it be the extension of metro lines or the development of cycle paths. We are currently investing massively in housing and traffic infrastructure. A bid for the Olympic Games would give these projects an additional boost. Citizens would benefit greatly. The fairytale summer of 2006 had a huge impact on Germany, including our image in the world. Major events bring confidence and optimism. »
A fairy tale named the Football World Cup, which allowed the country to give its infrastructure (sporting, but not only) a real boost and recently host Euro 2024. Markus Söder is already planning a triptych of Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, and Oktoberfest, which would offer three exceptional months to the Bavarian capital. In a four-way match with Hamburg, Berlin, and the Rhine-Ruhr region, Munich now has an argument that its opponents do not: clear and massive support from the local population. This will inevitably weigh in the balance between now and next fall, when Germany chooses its champion.
