Germany selects Munich for Olympic bid — Deutsche Welle

The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) has selected Munich as the city to submit Germany’s national bid to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044. Deutsche Welle English reports.

Two contenders

Munich and the Rhine-Ruhr region bid, led by Cologne, were the two contenders for the right to represent Germany. Berlin was also among the contenders until Thursday, but the city’s mayor announced the withdrawal of its bid.

The withdrawal of Berlin’s bid came after the socialist Left Party won elections in the German capital last weekend. Its lead candidate and potential mayor, Elif Eralp, had said that she did not support the city’s Olympic bid.

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Munich’s previous experience

Munich already hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1972. The city also unsuccessfully bid to host the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games.

Ahead of the vote, Sports Minister Ronald Rauhe said that Germany should choose the city or region with the best international chances. He also named 2040 as the preferred date for Germany’s bid, as it will mark 50 years since the country’s reunification. According to him, the main task is to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games back to Germany regardless of the year they are held.

Earlier, the minister-president of North Rhine-Westphalia said that up to 17.6 million tickets could be sold for Games in Cologne and the Rhine-Ruhr region — more than at any previous Games.