Munich votes for the Olympic Games: 66.4% per application!

Munich votes for the Olympic Games: 66.4% per application!

In an exciting turn of events, Munich today took another step towards a possible Olympic bid. A total of 305,349 citizens, which corresponds to 66.4 percent of voters, voted in favor of applying for the Summer Olympics and Paralympics. This is evident from today's voting results, which were announced at 6 p.m. in more than 100 polling stations. Over 1.1 million Munich residents were called to vote, and voter turnout was an impressive 42 percent, which is a record level. The crucial question was: “Are you in favor of the state capital Munich applying for the Summer Olympics and Paralympics, which will take place in either 2036, 2040 or 2044?” , reports the tz.

The opposition received less support with 154,359 votes, which is 33.6 percent. The required quorum of at least 10 percent of those entitled to vote was achieved. Approval was particularly high in Allach-Untermenzing at 71.7 percent, followed by Maxvorstadt (70.9 percent) and Altstadt-Lehel (70.5 percent). In comparison, fewer citizens in Sendling (61.7 percent), Bogenhausen (62.6 percent) and Laim (63.3 percent) voted for the application.

The path to implementation

Thanks to this clear vote, the city now has the opportunity to work on the application concept. Munich has to prevail against three competitors in Germany. The decision on the candidate of the German Olympic Sports Confederation will take place in September 2026. Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter emphasizes that these games would not only be a sporting event, but could also provide significant impetus for urban development, housing construction and local public transport.

The first counts showed that more than a third of voters had already voted by postal vote. For the first time, the city sent citizens unsolicited postal voting documents, which could have contributed to the high voter turnout. The first results were expected around 7 p.m. , adds the BR.

The supporters' hopes are high, but opponents of the application are also loud. The “NOlympia” alliance warns of possible high debts and rising living costs that could accompany hosting the games. They point out that the estimated costs for the necessary infrastructure and sports facilities could be at least five billion euros. A large financial chunk that the city would have to cover itself.

The planned competition venues

A large part of the competitions will take place in Munich, but also in the surrounding communities. The lakes in Oberschleissheim are intended for rowing competitions and Lake Starnberg is intended for swimming. There are also plans to build a temporary swimming pool in a multifunctional arena at the airport. Further sports facilities will be set up in the Nymphenburg Palace Park, in the English Garden, in Riem, on the Theresienwiese and in the exhibition grounds. You can read more information about it here.

The National Olympic Committee's decision is on the agenda for next year. Munich's application could therefore go in a forward-looking direction that could one day enrich both the city and the region. A good hand could set the course for the next few years.