06-02-2025
Germany positive about new Olympic bid, DOSB chief says
Germans are positive about a new Olympic bid, according to German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) president Thomas Weickert.
Weikert said on Thursday at the SpoBis conference in Hamburg that the positive mood has gained momentum after the successful Paris Games last year.
"We have conducted surveys. What do you think here in Germany? Do you want to have the Games again? They are always positive, over 70% at the moment," Weickert said.
The DOSB has agreed in principle to tackle a new bid, for 2036, 2040 or 2044. A decision on the bidding city or region is scheduled for December at its next assembly.
The cities of Hamburg and Berlin are among those interested, and Weikert defended the plan not to name a candidate but also to get the population involved.
"I believe that the regions that want to apply must also send out a positive signal from the population," he said.
Germany last hosted Olympics 1972 in Munich. Since then several bids have failed or stopped by referendums, including Hamburg's bid for 2024.
Hamburg senator for the interior and sport, Andy Grote, nonetheless favours a new vote and said he was confident of a positive result. Grote said that all cities and regions should have a referendum at the same time.
"That way we would also have a bit of of competitive idea, and you would know before you decide in favour of a city how high the approval rating actually is," he said.
