Munich 2036: Olympic bid relies on sustainability and citizen participation!

Munich 2036: Olympic bid relies on sustainability and citizen participation!

Munich has big plans: The city is preparing to submit a bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Like the city administration in a recent report announced, the concept entitled “Munich 20XX” was approved by the city council and receives the support of the Free State of Bavaria. But it's not just the planning that's challenging; The race against other candidates such as Berlin, Hamburg and Rhine-Ruhr is also already in full swing.

The focus of the project is sustainable and climate-friendly urban development, which is integrated into the concept. This includes, among other things, cultural events and a referendum that will take place on October 26th. Citizens therefore have the chance to actively participate in the application. There will be numerous information events until then, with the next event planned for the “Be there for Munich” action day on October 11th at Rindermarkt.

A focus on sustainability

One of the central elements of the application concept is the construction of an Olympic and Paralympic Village that will provide space for 16,000 athletes and support staff. A real treat: After the games, the village will be redesigned as a low-car, climate-positive residential area for at least 10,000 people, with 3,500 to 5,000 apartments. This is done in the spirit of a model district for resource-saving construction and sustainable urban development. The plan for the use of existing sports facilities, which are to be enriched with modern additions and temporary event areas, is also convincing.

Most of the sporting competitions will take place within a 30-kilometer radius of the Olympic Park. Only a few disciplines, such as football and sailing, are located in distant places. When designing the mobility concept, attractive solutions were developed: including Olympic Lanes on rails, an extension of the U4 subway line and comprehensive rapid cycle connections that will also lead to Dachau and Markt Schwaben.

Financing and costs

It is clear that when applying for the Olympics, the costs must also be kept in mind. On the official application page is found a detailed list of the different types of costs. Thanks to reduced requirements from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the total application costs can be estimated at between 5 and 8 million euros, which is a big difference from previous application phases, which could cost up to 40 million euros. Financial support will primarily come from the federal government and the Free State of Bavaria.

An important item that is not included in the application costs is the estimated 6.7 million euros for the referendum. It should also be noted that the costs for game preparation and implementation are further broken down; Here the focus is on event costs and infrastructure projects. As experiences from other countries show – Tokyo 2020 cost around 20 billion US dollars and Paris 2024 around 9 billion euros – spending can quickly escalate.

In summary, with the “Munich 20XX” concept, Munich is not only pursuing higher sporting ambitions, but is also focusing on forward-looking and sustainable urban development. The course has been set, now the commitment of the people of Munich counts in the decisive referendum.