AUDIO: Munich in Olympic pole position: What the vote means for Hamburg (3 min)
As of: October 27, 2025 9:09 p.m
Munich has clearly spoken out in favor of an Olympic bid. In his commentary, NDR reporter Holger Gerska explains what this means for the other applicants – and especially Hamburg’s ambitions.
So Munich said “yes”. It is the first positive vote since these referendums began in Germany. The victory of the Olympic supporters is impressive with over 66 percent approval – especially the change in mood compared to the 48 percent when asked about the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Munich will insist on an end to the four-way application battle
The conclusion is therefore clear: the Bavarian capital wants to host the Summer Olympics and, with this democratic legitimacy, is likely to insist on a quick end to the German four-way battle. Nationwide surveys in recent weeks also suggest that, unlike a few years ago, the mood in the country supports an official application.
NDR sports reporter Holger Gerska.
The tailwind can be felt thanks to the atmospheric days of the European Football Championship in our own country and the spectacular Olympic Games in Paris as a blueprint. In addition, unlike the planned application for the 2024/2028 Summer Games, the current Olympic offensive also enjoys the support of the federal government.
The DOSB is playing for time
So it’s not just the Olympic organizers in Bavaria who will be asking themselves: What are they waiting for? The international chances of a German application are currently not good. When it comes to sports policy, Germany has recently instinctively smashed so much porcelain that the relationship with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is currently considered to be broken, despite long-standing President Thomas Bach. Its influence on many of the approximately 100 IOC members is currently German sport’s greatest asset. But it is likely to fade.
Video:
Munich wants the Olympics – what about Hamburg? (2 mins)
And yet the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) is playing for time. Another year. It seems downright adventurous that it is not yet clear at all what criteria will be used to select the German candidate from among the four applicants Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Rhine-Ruhr. So what role does Munich’s 66 percent play if the population in Berlin is not supposed to be asked at all and possible citizen participation is still under discussion in North Rhine-Westphalia?
NDR survey: No support for the Olympics in Hamburg
And Hamburg? The Olympic referendum is scheduled for May 31, 2026. In 2015, the Olympic planners suffered a narrow defeat under difficult conditions. The latest NDR survey impressively shows that ten years later the city and its surroundings are not unconditionally behind the new attempt. Not 66 percent “yes” as in Munich but 60 percent “no”. Even if the whole thing is not that representative.
The Hamburg application is by no means significantly worse on paper. But there are differences. Munich has a suitable Olympic stadium that just needs to be renovated. Hamburg has to build. The jealousy that Bundesliga soccer team Hamburger SV would be given a new venue in contrast to city rivals FC St. Pauli has been the focus of discussions about the Hanseatic city concept in recent weeks.
The core Olympic sports are foreign to Hamburg
Once again proof of what is really important to the people of Hamburg when it comes to sport. Olympic sport has hardly played a role here in the past decades – apart from the mass sports events marathon, Cyclassics and triathlon. The core Olympic sports of swimming, athletics and gymnastics are foreign to Hamburg.
And that is exactly the biggest disadvantage compared to Munich: the highly praised hosting of the European Championships 2022 has broken down many prejudices against major sporting events in Bavaria. The result is over 66 percent in the citizen vote and the clear pole position in the German four-way competition for the Olympics.
