German Olympic bids have been rejected by the BUND at all four locations
In a joint statement, the state associations of BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland) from Bavaria, Hamburg, Berlin, and North Rhine-Westphalia have expressed concerns about a potential German bid for the Summer Olympics in 2036, 2040, or 2044. The representatives from these regions advocate for a comprehensive and transparent assessment of the potential environmental impacts of the Olympic Games.
The opposition from these state associations reflects worries about ecological damage and increased carbon footprint due to large infrastructure projects and increased travel, financial risks and cost overruns burdening public budgets, potential negative impacts on local communities, questionable long-term benefits, and the sustainability of the Olympic Games.
The cities of Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, as well as the Rhine-Ruhr region, have submitted bid concepts to the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB). The DOSB plans to present the concepts that meet the requirements at its annual meeting in December. The DOSB has assured that sustainability will be considered in the bidding process.
The BUND, an environmental and nature conservation organization, has opposed a German bid for the Olympic Summer Games. The Hamburg state chairwoman, Sabine Sommer, believes that the plans for the Olympic Games in Hamburg present significant ecological and social risks and are at odds with the goals of sustainable urban development. The Berlin representative, Gabi Jung, sees the main problems in the state of the capital's infrastructure.
The Bavarian state representative, Martin Geilhufe, fears that if the Olympic Games were to take place in Munich, it would lead to the city becoming more crowded, expensive, and asphalted. The BUND in North Rhine-Westphalia has serious doubts about the sustainability of the Olympic Games and calls for a strategic environmental assessment to determine, describe, and evaluate the impacts systematically and transparently.
The representatives from the various state associations believe that the Olympic Games are unnecessary and potentially harmful for sports promotion. The decision on which concept Germany will submit to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the upcoming Olympic Games will be made in the second half of 2026. The four state associations from Bavaria, Hamburg, Berlin, and North Rhine-Westphalia have rejected the Olympic bid in a joint statement.
The BUND, a German environmental and nature conservation organization, has expressed concerns about the potential ecological and social risks associated with cities like Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg bidding for the Olympic Summer Games. The representatives from the various state associations, including Bavaria, Hamburg, Berlin, and North Rhine-Westphalia, argue that the Olympic Games could be detrimental to sports promotion due to their possible impact on the environment, infrastructure, and local communities.
