Yes to the Olympics: Munich dreams of growth and new opportunities!

Yes to the Olympics: Munich dreams of growth and new opportunities!

The discussion about Munich's possible Olympic bid for 2036, 2040 or 2044 is in full swing. In a comment on Picture Sports journalist Jörg Althoff is clearly in favor of such an application. The event has shaped the city since the 1972 Olympic Games and has created a variety of infrastructure, such as the Olympic Park and the regatta course. Althoff, who has lived in Munich for 30 years, sees it as important that the city remains an Olympic city and voted in favor of the application by postal vote.

However, the opinion landscape is divided. Critics point out that rents and real estate prices have risen sharply in recent decades and that the Olympic Games would probably not have a positive impact here. Expert reports, including those from Wolfgang Maennig, a sports economist and 1988 Olympic champion, show that new sports facilities often lead to the upgrading of districts, which results in short-term increases in real estate prices. The land values ​​around the Velodrome in Berlin rose by up to 7.5% compared to other districts, such as BR reported.

Economic aspects and long-term consequences

But how realistic are the economic benefits from the Olympics really? Experts from established research institutes such as the Ifo Institute and the German Institute for Economic Research show that the overall economic effects are usually limited and often overestimated. Klaus Wohlrabe from the Ifo Institute emphasizes that although the impact on local bars, restaurants and hotels is there, it is often only short-term. Sports tourism also crowds out regular tourists, which leads to higher prices. The time highlights that Olympic Villages can create housing, but are often accompanied by an increase in rents.

There is another central argument regarding revenue: While the IOC gives 90% of its revenue to national Olympic sports associations, holding the games represents not only an organizational but also a financial challenge for the city. A forecast by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) envisages an event for Munich with a total cost of around 4.9 billion euros, which could still bring in an increase of 90 million euros.

Public infrastructure and social benefits

Althoff highlights the investments in infrastructure such as railways, roads and cycle paths triggered by the Olympics as a growth factor. It's not just material values ​​that are important; “Soft factors”, such as a positive atmosphere, could also have a positive impact on urban development. These aspects are of great importance to managers of large DAX companies, who provide more than 30 companies to actively support the application.

Althoff also brings personal motivation into play: his daughter's dream of competing in the Olympic Games in her hometown motivates him emotionally. It remains to be seen whether his enthusiastic approach will be equally well received by the population and whether the citizens of Munich will vote in favor of a possible application by Sunday.