The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) wrapped up its dialog forums related to a potential bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, dubbed the "Your Ideas. Your Games" initiative. Over 1700 individuals from five potential host cities—Leipzig, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, and Düsseldorf (for North Rhine-Westphalia)—shared their aspirations and criticisms during these sessions.
Stephan Brause, Head of Olympic Bidding at DOSB, shared his thoughts with the German Press Agency, commending the engagement and enthusiasm displayed throughout the discussions. He was particularly impressed by the optimistic viewpoint that the Games represented an opportunity rather than an insurmountable challenge for Germany. The Games could potentially be aimed for in 2036, marking 100 years since the Nazi Games in Berlin.
Brause also mentioned that in addition to the face-to-face interaction, approximately 5 million people expressed their thoughts on the Games digitally. While this represents a small percentage of the overall population, it still represents more voices than during previous attempts.
These insights will now be commissioned into a "Frankfurt Declaration" and presented at the DOSB General Assembly on 2 December in Frankfurt am Main. If the members approve, the DOSB will be authorised to formulate a bidding concept by the end of 2024. Afterward, the DOSB will scrutinize the bid and decide which Games they aim to secure.
Germany, represented by the DOSB, is considering Olympia as one of the five prospects for submitting a bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Through these dialog sessions and ongoing engagement with various cities, the DOSB aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of the public's expectations and sentiments towards a potential bid.
Enrichment Data: Germany is aggressively pursuing an Olympic and Paralympic Games bid, with strong support from the government, headed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Germany's Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, has expressed her enthusiasm for a multi-city bid, emphasizing that widespread engagement ensures nationwide support. In fact, Baerbock is inspired by the 2024 Paris Olympics, where events took place in numerous cities.
Financial support and political commitment are among the key factors driving Germany's bid ambitions. The German government has already pledged financial backing, with the upcoming elections on February 23 setting the decisive course for the bid. Moreover, the new government is expected to prioritize investments in sports facilities during the upcoming legislative term.
The DOSB is actively engaging in dialogue with various cities across Germany, exploring their interest and capabilities in hosting Olympic events. This process includes discussions with cities like Berlin and Hamburg, to ascertain the best strategy for a joint bid.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has established Future Host Commissions to supervise interest in future Olympic games. The DOSB will likely collaborate with these commissions to ensure their bid aligns with the IOC's new bidding process, which emphasizes flexibility and teamwork.
