Munich says yes to the Olympics: 66% approval in the referendum!

Munich says yes to the Olympics: 66% approval in the referendum!

A crucial referendum on the bid for the Summer Olympics was held in Munich over the weekend, and the response couldn't be clearer: around 66% of those who voted voted in favor of the bid. This is a strong sign for the Olympic plans, which are supported by Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) and Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU). Details can be found in a detailed report by muenchen.t-online.de.

The vote was not only a matter of pride, but also a major civic mobilization. Of the approximately 1.1 million Munich residents eligible to vote, over 400,000 took part, which corresponds to an impressive turnout of 42%. Reiter, who announced the result at around 7:18 p.m., was pleased with the broad support and emphasized that the majority in all city districts voted in favor of the Olympic bid. All constituencies recorded approval ratings above 60%, showing that the Olympics are attracting great interest in the city.

Districts in detail

However, support for the Olympic bid varied greatly depending on the district. The highest approval ratings were in:

• Allach-Untermenzing: 71,7%
• Maxvorstadt: 70,9%
• Altstadt-Lehel: 70,5%
• Feldmoching-Hasenbergl: 68,8%
• Milbertshofen-Am Hart: 68,3%
• Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt: 68,1%

Approval is in the middle range in districts such as Trudering-Riem with 67.8% and Schwabing-Freimann with 69.5%. However, in some areas, such as Laim and Bogenhausen, approval was lower, with values ​​of only 63.3% and 62.6% respectively.

The plans behind the application

But what is actually behind this application? The planned approach envisages the use of existing sports facilities that have existed since the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Plans include the Olympic Stadium, the Olympic Hall and the regatta course in Oberschleißheim. This should not only minimize costs, but also contribute to sustainability. Mayor Reiter also expects that the construction of a new Olympic Village will have a positive impact on the housing situation in Munich.

However, there are also critical voices. The NOlympia alliance raises concerns about financial viability and points to the rising costs of the Olympic Games, such as those seen in Paris 2024. Opponents also fear that the games could lead to gentrification and thus rising rents in the city. These concerns were expressed by prominent representatives such as Ludwig Hartmann, who described the referendum as a “David versus Goliath battle”.

The decision on the final application will be made in autumn 2026 by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), which is also sending other German cities such as Berlin and Hamburg into the race. The prospects for Munich are now open – the city has successfully overcome the first hurdle! Further details and background information can be found at tagesschau.de or in the report from ZDF today.