German Olympic Committee names Munich as bid city choice
Munich has been voted as the city that will bid for the Olympics in 2036, 2040 or 2044. Berlin had been in the running but withdrew on Thursday.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) declared Munich as Germany's chosen city to bid for hosting the next three Summer Olympic Games, according to a Saturday announcement. Former Olympic champion and newly appointed Sports Minister Ronald Rauhe emphasized the international significance, stating, "We have an international task to fulfill and must enter the race with the city or region that gives Germany the greatest chances internationally."
The decision rested between Munich and Cologne, with Cologne's bid spearheaded by the Rhine-Ruhr region. The North Rhine-Westphalia premier recently cited the potential for selling up to 17.6 million tickets, a record for a Games. Munich, while campaigning post two failed Winter Games bids in 2018 and 2022, previously hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Earlier, Berlin was on the list, but its mayor announced withdrawal following the socialist Left Party's recent election victory in the city, with candidate Elif Eralp expressing opposition to Berlin's bid. Sports Minister Ronald Rauhe expressed enthusiasm for a German bid in 2040, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of German reunification, a date he personally finds significant due to his childhood experiences of reunification.
However, the ultimate goal remains bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games back to Germany, regardless of the timeline.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
