Bremen Leaves Olympic Games Race, Again - Compared to Shining Hamburg
Bremen's exclusion from Hamburg's Olympic scheme explained
When big sports events roll into Germany, Bremen isn't in the running. Now, Hamburg is eyeing the Olympic Games, and once more, Bremen finds itself watching from the sidelines.
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Hamburg's bid doesn't include a single Bremen sports facility, unlike the last two bids. No Weser Stadium or City Hall here.
Last weekend, Hamburg's Sports and Interior Senator, Andy Grote, shed some light on the matter. "We're focusing on intense games," he said, referencing previous experiences. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) prefers Olympic bids that stick to a minimum number of host cities.
However, Hamburg can't cover all sports. Sailing, handball, and rugby will get their playtime in Kiel, wildwater canoeing in Saxon Markkleeberg, shooting in Thuringian Suhl. Football will spread throughout the country.
Spokesperson Daniel Schaefer from the Hamburg Authority for the Interior and Sports elaborated that football is frequently decentralized during the Olympics. Both the DOSB and DFB see this as a chance to spread some of the 'Olympic spirit' across the country. The Weser-Weser Stadium isn't in the game plan.
The goal was to draw a broad spectrum of other states and arenas into the game. This isn't directed against Bremen, he emphasizes.
Bremen's Missed Opportunity, According to the Opposition
Politics may have played a role in Bremen's absence from major sports events. There appears to be a lack of determination to host among Bremen's politicians. Bremen didn't approach Hamburg before the Olympic bid. Bremen's Sports and Interior Senator, Ulrich Maurer, believes the responsibility lies with Minister of Economics, Kristina Vogt, who, in turn, pushes the ball back to Maurer. Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte distance himself from the responsibility for major sports events.
Bremen's opposition believes the Senate blew an opportunity for the Olympics. Marco Lübke, spokesperson for the CDU parliamentary group for the interior and sports, is puzzled by this hesitation. "It's odd that there doesn't seem to be any will to participate," he says. "This would be an amazing chance for Bremen."
Industry and Academia See Potential Benefits
Oliver Rau, CEO of Bremen's Economic Development Corporation, shares the opposition's view. He thinks a sporting event of this magnitude would benefit the regional economy positively.
"We've got a great location. We've got an awesome stadium. We've got top-notch infrastructure," said the former rower who was a reserve for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
As an ideal size to host such events, we've got enough hotels, and we're close to the airport and main train station.
Rainer Hartmann, professor of leisure and tourism development at the University of Bremen, also supports the idea. He believes Bremen could have earned benefits from hosting the Olympics, even if costs weren't covered by the revenues.
"There's potential for economic gain, but major events also ensure media exposure, and international attention," Hartmann explains. "Sports have a positive connotation: a well-organized event can boost a city's image." Hartmann uses examples like the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which left Germany with a massive global image boost.
However, large-scale events come with risks. Hartmann warns about potential disruptions, infrastructure failures, or even terrorist attacks, as seen at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
In light of Hamburg's Olympic bid, Bremen remains on the sidelines, missing yet another opportunity to be part of a major sports event like football. Despite having a suitable stadium and infrastructure, Bremen did not approach Hamburg, leading to speculation about a lack of determination from its politicians.
