Bavaria Claims Ownership of Olympia; CSU Faction Advocates for Closure of Ally
In the heart of Germany, the number one sports state, Bavaria, is being proposed as an ideal host for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to Thorsten Freudenberger. While an official bid has yet to be launched, there is growing support for the idea among local sports figures.
Alexandra Burghardt, a track and field athlete, two-woman bobsleigh pusher, and medalist at Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024, believes the home audience released unique power during the European Championships in 2022. Burghardt is confident that the Olympic and Paralympic Games can achieve greater things if held in Bavaria.
Martin Stock, chairman of the AG Sports, shares this sentiment, believing that Bavaria should be the heart of a German Olympic bid due to its strong love for sports and existing sports facilities. Jörg Ammon, president of the Bavarian State Sports Association, agrees, stating that the Games can create a broad initiative for sports, movement, and a healthy lifestyle across Germany.
If a bid were to be successful, the Games could offer numerous benefits. Historically, hosting the Olympics has led to increased sports infrastructure investment, greater public interest in sports participation, and a boost in local sports club memberships due to the Games' legacy effect. Socially, such events often generate temporary boosts in tourism, civic pride, and community engagement, though they can also raise concerns about costs and urban displacement.
For Munich and Bavaria specifically, their extensive existing sports club culture, especially in football, winter sports, and other disciplines, could potentially benefit from an Olympic Games through increased visibility and funding. However, as of now, there is no current active bid or exact projections related to Munich/Bavaria’s hosting of the Olympics or Paralympics to assess potential impacts specifically.
The CSU state parliament faction is advocating for close cooperation from all partners for the games. Klaus Holetschek, the CSU parliamentary group chairman, supports the games taking place in Bavaria. Sebastian Kraft, press spokesman for the CSU parliamentary group, and Michaela Lochner, deputy press spokeswoman, can be contacted for press inquiries.
Josia Topf, a para-swimmer and gold medalist at Paris 2024, believes competing in front of a home audience can unleash unforeseen powers. Topf also believes that if para-sports play a central role from the start, future generations will benefit from modern, inclusive sports facilities. The Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to Topf, can inspire children and youth for movement, team spirit, and sporting dreams again.
Thorsten Freudenberger, chairman of the State Sports Council, believes that the European Championships have shown Bavaria's ability to organize sporting major events excellently and with enthusiasm from the people. He is confident that the Olympic and Paralympic Games can unite society and provide sustainable impulses.
The experiences of major sporting events like the Olympics have shown an increase in membership numbers in sports clubs, according to Jörg Ammon. He emphasizes that the Olympic and Paralympic Games are not just about medals, but also a social signal for more sports from childhood on - in breadth and in excellence.
As the world watches other cities prepare bids for the 2036 Summer Olympics, Munich and Bavaria remain hopeful for their own potential bid. The support from local sports figures, the CSU parliamentary group, and athletes like Alexandra Burghardt and Josia Topf, suggests a strong enthusiasm for the Games in the region. Whether or not an official bid will be launched remains to be seen, but for now, the possibility of Munich and Bavaria hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games is an exciting prospect for the sports community.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/munich-bavaria-eye-potential-olympic-paralympic-games-bid-2021-08-19/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/58224840.amp [3] https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1112310/germany-eyes-future-olympic-bid-as-munich-2022-falls-apart [4] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/06/sports/olympics/transgender-athletes-usopc-policy.html [5] https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/58224840.amp
- Alexandra Burghardt, confident about the potential benefits of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, asserts that Bavaria's home audience could unleash unique powers during such events, similar to the European Championships in 2022.
- Josia Topf, a para-swimmer and gold medalist, envisions that if para-sports play a significant role from the start, the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Bavaria could inspire future generations with modern, inclusive sports facilities and fuel their sporting dreams.
