Munich in the Olympic race: Söder sees the best chances!

Munich in the Olympic race: Söder sees the best chances!

The hearts of sports fans beat faster in Munich on October 27th: a two-thirds majority voted in favor of the city's application for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. With a voter turnout of 42 percent, 66.4 percent of voters were in favor of hosting the games between 2036 and 2044 ran.de reported.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder made it clear that Munich has the best conditions to host the games. He described the city as the economically strongest and safest area in Germany, which also has sustainable gaming options. The sports mayor Verena Dietl is also optimistic and highlights the existing sports facilities and the Olympic Park. Jörg Ammon, President of the Bavarian State Sports Association (BLSV), describes Munich as the clear number one among German applicants.

The pressure on the DOSB and competitors

Although Munich is strong in the race, the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) is under pressure. The DOSB is urgently pursuing a new concept for a German Olympic bid, after long-failed attempts over the last two decades have dimmed hope. On Deutschlandfunk It can be read that Germany is the only G7 country that has not hosted or will not host any Olympic or Paralympic Games between 2010 and 2028.

A DOSB delegation, led by President Thomas Weikert, has already visited the four candidate cities of Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne. A steering committee should clarify various aspects, such as the locations and times of the possible games as well as the necessity for Germany to host the Olympic Games. A concrete concept version is to be completed by the end of 2023, which will then be voted on at a general meeting.

Citizen participation and scheduling

The planned citizen participation is particularly striking. A citizens' vote for Munich is scheduled for October 26, 2026 to give the population the opportunity to comment on the Olympic bid. Hamburg is planning a referendum for spring 2026 and North Rhine-Westphalia is also taking action in this regard.

The next steps are clear: The final assessment is scheduled to take place in autumn 2026 by an extraordinary DOSB general meeting. The applicants have the opportunity to obtain social support through referendums until the end of June 2026, as can be read in the DOSB announcement. Weikert emphasizes that the appeal of the Olympic Games and the social added value they offer must play an important role.

At a time when international sports policy is not looking particularly rosy for Germany, the DOSB is hoping for an agreement that takes into account the noticeable public concerns about major Olympic events. Sustainability and compliance with human rights are at the top of the agenda, while at the same time existing stadiums and sports facilities should be used sensibly.

With so many cities competing to host the Games, including countries like Egypt, Indonesia and Qatar, it will be exciting to see what the decision is next fall. DOSB and the cities involved will now do everything they can to take the population's demands and concerns seriously while at the same time realizing the Olympic vision for Germany.