Munich residents vote in favour of hosting the Olympic Games
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Munich is one step closer to hosting the Olympic Games in the future as a majority of residents have voted in favour of holding the international sporting event in the city for 2036, 2040 or 2044.
66 percent of residents want Munich to host Olympics again
In a referendum, over 66 percent of residents supported Munich’s bid to host the Summer Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044, reports BR24. Not only was it a resounding yes, but it was also a record turnout with more than 460.000 voters casting their ballots.
If Munich wins the bid, it would be the second time the city has hosted the Olympic Games. The last time any German city hosted the games was in 1972, when the Olympics took place in the Bavarian capital.
The games half a century ago were overshadowed when 17 people were killed after Israeli athletes were taken hostage by Palestinian terrorists. Not dwelling on the attack, proponents are emphasising that because the city has hosted the Olympics before, there are already facilities available for future Olympic Games.
Other German cities in the running to host Olympic Games
While there’s a lot of enthusiasm for the Olympic Games to be held in Munich once again, it is far from a done deal. Other German cities, such as Hamburg, Berlin and the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Region, have also expressed interest in hosting the games, never mind international competitors.
Despite this, there is still confidence that Munich has a strong chance, especially after the referendum's positive outcome. "I now feel very confident that we have a strong bid and that we have nothing to fear, even compared to other German cities," Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter told BR24. "I'm very curious to see how the other competing cities handle this."
Opponents to hosting the Olympics, such as the “NOlympia” alliance, have concerns that the games could create more city debt, while also raising rents and living costs for residents. The German Olympic Committee will make a decision about the German entry by September 2026, and then it is up to the International Olympic Committee to make the final decision.