NRW is planning Olympic Games: Citizens' survey for sports event started!

NRW is planning Olympic Games: Citizens' survey for sports event started!

Gelsenkirchen, Deutschland - North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is planning an application for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the Rhein-Ruhr region. Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) presented the concept on May 28, 2025 in the German Sport and Olympics Museum in Cologne. The plan provides for over ten million viewers to win and score with a combination of the high population and many large sports facilities. An important component is a citizen survey to ensure the consent of the population. Wüst is optimistic that the population will support the application.

The event location for the swimming competitions is said to be the Schalke-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, which offers space for 60,000 spectators. In addition, the final games in handball, basketball and volleyball are planned in the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf. It is particularly noteworthy that the Rhein-Ruhr region tried an application for the Olympic Games under the leadership of Düsseldorf in 2012, but was not selected. This time the privately financed initiative "Rhein Ruhr City", which has existed for eight years, could promote sustainable approach to align the games 2036 or 2040

locations and sports facilities

The application comprises 16 cities, including Aachen, Bochum, Dortmund, Duisburg, Essen, Gelsenkirchen and Cologne. 95 % of the required competition venues are already available or can be erected temporarily. The planned sports include basketball and handball in Düsseldorf, hockey in Mönchengladbach, weightlifting and karate in Essen as well as canoe and rowing in Duisburg. The equestrian system in Aachen is considered one of the most renowned for international equestrian sports.

The concept was developed in cooperation with municipalities, specialists and athletes and will be officially submitted to the German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB) by the end of May. The use of the Lanxess Arena in Cologne for parasport disciplines with finals in front of 18,000 spectators is also planned.

sustainability and infrastructure

A temporary stadium for athletics competitions as well as an Olympic and Paralympic village are to be built, which is converted into a new city district after the games. These measures not only support sustainability, but also the accessibility of the competition sites. Around 90 % of athletes could reach their competition venues from the Olympic village within an hour.

The decision about the final German applicant for the Olympic Games is to be made in autumn 2026. The DOSB is already planning talks with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). NRW, with around 12 million people who do sports regularly, and around 500,000 volunteers in sports, is optimistic. The state government supports the application from the beginning and numerous cities in the region have already taken up council resolutions to support, but which are subject to financing and citizen participation.

The last Olympic Games in Germany took place in Munich in 1972, and the current plans for NRW could offer the country a new sporting stage. Prime Minister Wüst emphasizes the positive atmosphere in North Rhine-Westphalia and refers to the experience as the host of numerous international sporting events, which also gives an application in weight.

It remains to be seen how the citizens' survey is and whether the necessary approval for the ambitious plans is given in North Rhine -Westphalia. The preparations are under the motto of presenting a festival of top sport in front of over ten million fans, as ZVW.de and wdr.de