interview
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) would like to apply again for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. But after seven failed campaigns since the last games on German soil in Munich in 1972, the governing body has become cautious. But he thinks he’s on the right track – and it should look different than in the past application failures, as DOSB President Thomas Weikert emphasized in an interview with sportschau.de after a hearing on this topic before the Sports Committee of the Bundestag.
“Mr. Weikert, the European Championships in Munich were considered a great success, and the European Basketball Championships in Cologne and Berlin also triggered a lot of enthusiasm among fans. They could easily have played the Olympics card afterwards and a new application, which is the declared goal of the DOSB is, can force it. Why didn’t they do it?”
Thomas Weikert: “Because we don’t allow ourselves to be influenced by temporary storms of enthusiasm. In the past, sport and the government were simply asked how we would run the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Then there was a citizen survey, and then they went swimming. We don’t do that anymore. We everyone wants to ask, especially the critics. People have to be taken along and heard. The debate culture in the DOSB is different now. It’s about education, information and participation in all parts of society.”
“Do you have the feeling that you have come closer to an application here in the Bundestag?”
Weikert: “Yes, I think we’ve come closer. Today there was also a lot of talk about the European Championships or the European Basketball Championship. The events were a great success. Getting an application process for the Olympic Games going is something else “, but the cornerstone has definitely been laid. And I think the general meeting of the DOSB in December in Baden-Baden will give a positive vote for an application, so that we can start planning such an event. There will be many hurdles . There will be a lot to talk about. But we are optimistic that we can do it well.”
“What does the concrete path to a possible application look like?”
Weikert: “The dialogue process mentioned will take a year and a half, two years, in any case until after the 2024 games in Paris. Then we will sum up and see whether we apply and with whom we apply if the whole thing is positive from our point of view. We won’t commit to anything beforehand. The new IOC guidelines give us more flexibility. For example, it doesn’t have to be just one location where the Olympic and Paralympic Games are held, according to modern interpretation there can also be two.”
“You mentioned 2034 for the winter games or 2036 for the summer games as the earliest dates for a possible host role. If this process, which you have described, were successful, then an application for winter 2034 or summer 2036 is set, or do you also have later games in the Eye?”
Weikert: “2040 would also be a possibility, of course. As the current presidency, we are aiming for an application as soon as possible, should we be re-elected, and that would be for the 2034 or 2036 games.”
“Is it conceivable for the DOSB to apply without a referendum in the host region?”
Weikert: “No. There will be referendums if we decide to apply. And again: It’s possible that there are several candidate cities.”
The interview was conducted by Jörg Mebus.