Berlin withdraws from race to host summer Olympics

Berlin has decided to withdraw from the bidding process to host the upcoming Summer Olympics, leaving Munich and the Rhine/Ruhr region as the primary candidates, according to local media reports. The German Olympic Committee will announce a preferred region on Saturday as part of a bid to the International Olympic Committee for one of the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Summer Games.

The city authorities in Berlin have not commented on the decision, but have scheduled a press conference for Thursday to provide more information. Hamburg was also in the race but withdrew following an unfavorable result in a public consultation in May. The Berlin government had previously expressed its desire to host the Games, but the change in position may be influenced by the upcoming municipal elections.

Elif Eralp, a leading candidate for the far-left Die Linke party, which won the most votes in the recent polls, has stated that she does not support a bid for Berlin to host the Olympics. The DOSB evaluation committee recently ranked Munich and the Rhine/Ruhr bids highly, placing Berlin in third position. The Summer Olympics have been held twice in Germany, with Berlin organizing the 1936 Games under Nazi rule and Munich hosting the 1972 Games during the West German era.