Munich ready for the Olympics: citizens agree with over 60%!

Munich ready for the Olympics: citizens agree with over 60%!

The dream of the Olympics in Germany is becoming more and more concrete. In a recent citizen survey, over 60 percent of Munich residents voted in favor of bidding for the Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044. This decision is not only a sign of support from the population, but could also send a signal to other cities such as Berlin, Hamburg and the Rhine-Ruhr region that are also interested in bidding for the Olympics. As NDR reports, the discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of the alignment continues to be highly emotional.

Munich's mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) described the result as positive for the city, while Jörg Ammon, the head of the Bavarian State Sports Association, spoke of a "dream result". Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) was also optimistic before the vote and emphasized that Munich had the best chance of scoring points with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). However, it remains unclear whether the city will actually host the games, as other German cities are also promoting themselves.

Other cities and the political background

As the Tagesspiegel reports, Hamburg, Kiel and the Rhine-Ruhr region are also voting on their own applications, while politicians in Berlin want to decide without citizen participation. The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) will select a candidate to run for the IOC in autumn 2026. The final decision on the German applicant will be made on December 6, 2023 at the DOSB general meeting in Frankfurt am Main.

The citizen survey in Munich was a great success: around 1.1 million Munich residents were invited, and many decided to vote by post. While supporters hope for the positive effects of an Olympics like the 1972 Summer Games, critics warn about the high costs of such a major event. These voices are calling for resources to be better invested in urban development or housing construction...

The planners in Munich counter that there are already many sports facilities that could be used for the games, which could significantly reduce expenses compared to other Olympics. Nevertheless, the economic and social discussion about the Olympic Games remains lively. Critics raise concerns that costs and rents could skyrocket, while advocates tout support for mass transit and faster housing construction through the Olympics campaign. A good compromise must be found here in order to maximize the opportunities for Munich and the entire region.