The plan to bring the Olympic Summer Games to Germany has been around for a long time, just a concept. Now comes the next delay.
“Stop the clock” – This is how the German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB) advertises that Germany should apply for the Olympic and Paralympic summer games. 52 years, 6 months and 27 days on Wednesday (April 9, 2025) that Munich was the Olympic host in 1972. The DOSB now wants to stop at a press conference.
At the same time, however, the waiting for a solid application concept is also extended. Even here, the DOSB does not manage to stop the clock. President Thomas Weikert admitted that his association could again not meet the scheduled schedule.
In 2024 2025 becomes 2026
The DOSB originally wanted to create an application concept in 2024. Finally, it was then said that the general assembly should decide on at least one final application concept at the end of 2025. But that’s a passé again.
The new schedule: Until June 2026, applicants should have time to carry out possible referenders – however, this is not a must. Afterwards, the DOSB and the federal government want to select a concept and present an extraordinary DOSB general meeting in September 2026 to adopt.
Hamburg on in the race
There is also a lover course in the search for the venue. Initially, an overall German application was the goal of preventing a competition and having to build as little as possible. In the meantime, however, it is supposed to amount to the application of a city plus region with a large Olympic village.
This “One-villagE-principle “is a prerequisite for the fact that the concept also has opportunities to be selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said IOC member Michael Mronz. Munich, the Rhein-Ruhr-Region and Berlin are interested and also After a cooperation with Berlin, Hamburg brought back into conversation.
Application without a specific year
The DOSB originally wanted to apply for 2036, but now it wants to go into the race without a specific year. The new credo: Germany must be ready if Europe is asked when choosing. In addition to 2036, there are also 2040 and 2044 in the room.
The DOSB assumes that the IOC will not award the next games before 2027 – this was said by board member Volker Bouffier with reference to the talks with the IOC. Mronz, however, said that nobody still knows what schedule the new IOC President Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe is pursuing.
Bouffier considers it possible that three games will be awarded at the same time in 2027. From Asia, especially India and Saudi Arabia are considered candidates, Africa Egypt and South Africa. European competition could come for Germany from Istanbul, Budapest, Madrid, Copenhagen, Italy and Poland.
Political world situation as a problem
CDU/CSU and SPD, which is on Wednesday have agreed on a coalition agreementsupport the German Olympic acquisition – this emerges from the working papers of the coalition negotiations. However, there is still a lot of time until 2036, 2040 and 2044 and who knows what the world looks like in view of wars and customs chaos?
“The political decision -making horizon is shorter and the volatile political situation is still tightening this topic”said sports scientist Lutz Thieme the Sportschau. In this way, it could be difficult to elicit the necessary financial commitments to the Federal Government for an orientation in the distant future.
Bouffier sees application as a “huge opportunity”
Bouffier, long-time CDU politician and Prime Minister of the State of Hesse, was still optimistic. “In my view, this is a huge opportunity for the new coalition to gather many people behind a common goal. ” In addition, Olympic games are a manageable investment compared to other things.
Bouffier tried the well -known argument that an Olympic application could be a draft horse for an investment offensive, for a new “golden plan” for sport. “We apply to make Germany fit for a big goal.”