Germany gauges citizens on Olympics

By Javier Carro

LONDON: Despite its recent record of rejections, the Federal Republic remains enthusiastic about redefining its relationship with Olympism through the bids of Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and the Rhine-Ruhr region, which will compete to host a Summer Games between 2036 and 2044 while seeking public support. Since the Munich Olympic Games in 1972, marked by the tragic terrorist attack against the Israeli delegation, Germany has tried several times to regain the hosting rights without success. Proposals such as Berlin for the year 2000, Leipzig for 2012, Munich for the 2022 Winter Games and Hamburg for 2024 failed before reaching the International Olympic Committee. On more than one occasion, these candidatures were thwarted by popular rejection expressed through local referendums, where citizens questioned the high economic cost, the environmental impact and the true sustainability of such a complex event. The project Germany is beginning to outline to host future Olympic Games is not merely a candidacy, but rather an exercise in political, sporting and social strategy aimed at claiming the right to organise the greatest sporting event on the planet; but doing so under a narrative capable of telling a renewed story that can persuade the citizens.

Starting from this point, the social climate around the idea of hosting the multi-sport event seems favourable. According to a representative survey conducted by the Forsa polling institute, commissioned by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and published exclusively by Table.Briefings, 68% of citizens across the country view Germany’s bid to host the event between 2036 and 2044 positively. A broad majority that contrasts with the opposition that toppled previous bids. This support, although widespread nationally, intensifies in the regions directly involved in the project: in Bavaria, 72% of respondents support the bid; in North Rhine-Westphalia, 71%; in Hamburg, 70%; and in Berlin, 67%. Although these figures are not surprising, as they are regions likely to benefit, they do confirm that the social base in these areas is solid. The German capital, for example, which has already failed in its attempts to host the Games in 2000 and 2024, now enjoys considerable public support, suggesting a shift in public perception.

Enthusiasm is especially strong among the younger population: 82% of respondents aged between 14 and 29 are in favour of the Games. By contrast, among those over 60, support drops to 60%, revealing a generational gap that could also influence the type of discourse used by the candidate cities. Furthermore, according to Table.Briefings, voters aligned with the CDU/CSU (76%) and the SPD (75%) show above-average support, which could provide a favourable political base for campaigning in favour of the bid. The DOSB is fully aware that without a majority of citizens behind it, any attempt is doomed to fail. In fact, history shows that Olympic bids lacking prior public backing ultimately end up being discarded. For this reason, key dates have already been marked on the democratic calendar: Bavaria will hold a public consultation in October of this year, while Berlin, Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia will do so in the spring of 2026.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the competition continues, and cities are manoeuvring to position themselves as the most attractive option. In Berlin, the State Sports Association launched a signature-gathering campaign this week among citizens, seeking a resolution from the House of Representatives to support the bid. This is a process in which 20,000 Berlin citizens over the age of 16 must sign the petition within a six-month period. Five key demands are prioritised in this matter: not only the bid itself, but also the promotion of sport for all social groups, financial security regarding the renovation and construction of facilities, investment in grassroots sport, and administrative simplification. “We firmly believe that many more Berliners will sign, thus sending a signal that many people in our city see the great opportunities that the Olympic and Paralympic Games offer Berlin,” said the President of the organisation, Thomas Härtel, to Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

The Berlin Senate has not yet defined how it plans to include the public in the decision-making process regarding the Olympic bid. According to Christian Hochgrebe, State Secretary to the Senator for the Interior and Sport, Iris Spranger (SPD), “a call for proposals is being prepared for the design and implementation of a participation process. As part of this process, in addition to the general public, the private sector and the sporting civil society at large will also be qualitatively involved.” The second stage will involve a dialogue process aimed at drafting a draft community agreement together with representatives reflecting the diversity of opinions. Finally, the third phase will consist of collaborative implementation, including the signing of the agreement, the creation of a permanent advisory committee and the conducting of regular evaluations to monitor progress. Nevertheless, a month after the presentation of the Olympic bid draft, essential data is still missing. As Berliner Morgenpost explains, it is expected that the House of Representatives will only examine the details based on the national competitive situation, but Parliament has yet to receive documentation. The Senate is also unable to estimate the cost of the Games, or who will finance them. In response to Die Linke, the Senate indicated that the DOSB will provide a budget estimate by the end of 2025. Furthermore, in June 2026, the Senate will present a feasibility study including a preliminary analysis of financial, social, ecological and infrastructure risks.

The bid draws on IOC reforms that promote sustainability and efficiency. The concept centres on the Olympic Park, which would host nearly half of the competitions and be revitalised to include urban sports. Priority is given to the use of existing sports facilities, many inherited from the 1972 Games, and an Olympic Village is planned in the northeast of the city which, after the Games, would be transformed into a sustainable neighbourhood with 4,000 homes. In addition, improvements are planned in public transport and green infrastructure, as well as a strong boost for inclusive and recreational sport, with economic and reputational benefits for Munich and the region. However, not everything has been met with enthusiasm. The bid has faced criticism for a lack of financial and political momentum. As Germany’s representative to the IOC, Michael Mronz, has shown a positive attitude towards this new scenario. According to him, the four proposals presented symbolise “a new Olympic wave in Germany” and he considers this moment to represent a “noteworthy surge of enthusiasm”. His words, quoted by Table.Briefings, clearly reflect the atmosphere at this initial stage of the process. There is still a long way to go. The calendar is clear, but the road ahead is full of variables. The DOSB’s final decision should come by September 2026, but before that, the candidates will have to build from the ground up a credible narrative, a solid technical proposal and, above all, popular legitimacy that takes precedence over unilateral decisions. Only then will Germany be able to look Olympism in the eye and say that it is ready to be host once again.