The six major Berlin professional clubs – 1. FC Union, Hertha BSC, BR Volleys, Eisbären, Alba and Füchse Berlin – support the Berlin Senate’s plan to apply to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The clubs announced this on Tuesday as part of a media round of the “Initiative Proficlubs Berlin”.
Major sporting events such as the 2024 European Football Championship, the 2006 World Cup or the Special Olympics World Games 2023 have shown that Berlin as a host city triggers great enthusiasm and has positive effects on tourism, business and gastronomy, according to the initiative.
An Olympic bid could also provide impetus for affordable housing, the expansion of local public transport and the construction of urgently needed sports facilities.
“A bid for the Olympics offers a great opportunity to tackle the diverse challenges of our city actively, in a coordinated manner and with a clear time frame,” explained Kaweh Niroomand, managing director of BR Volleys, spokesman for the initiative and Berlin’s Olympic representative. “Paris has impressively shown how the Olympics can be used as a lever for the sustainable development of a metropolis of millions.”
The clubs are tying their support to the condition that popular sports in particular benefit from a possible bid for the Olympics. A successful application must offer clear added value for all Berliners.
Along with Munich, Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, Berlin is one of four Germans interested in hosting the games in 2036, 2040 or 2044.
A citizen’s survey will be held in Munich next Sunday, but that is not planned in Berlin: “A participation process is planned, and a large campaign will begin at the same time,” said Niroomand.