Berlin's Olympic Bid: Gearing Up with Public Support
Preparing a Public Initiative for an Olympic Bid by LSB (Local Sports Body) - Preparation underway for Olympic-related popular initiative by LSB
Get ready for the action, folks! Berlin's laying its cards on the table for the Olympic Games, painting a prospective picture for 2036, 2040, or 2044. But it ain't just about the city alone—Berlin+, the bid's label, is backed by five German states: Brandenburg, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schleswig-Holstein, and Berlin itself.
The plan's all about sustainability, using venues that already sing the Olympic songs. Olympiastadion? Check. The very stage where Jesse Owens set records in 1936. But nothing's this straightforward, right?
There's a storm brewin' over Tempelhof. This former airport-turned-city-park has been protected by the people since a 2014 referendum. Plans to use it for Olympic events have ruffled some feathers and drawn resistance from residents.
And the resistance doesn't stop there. A group named "NOlympia Berlin" is gunning for a citizens' initiative to block the Games from happening in Berlin. They want to force a public referendum, fueled by community pushback against hosting such a global event.
On the brighter side, Thomas Härtel, President of the Berlin State Sports Association (LSB), believes they can collect therequired 20,000 signatures within six months, setting a popular initiative in motion.
Iris Spranger, Senator for the Interior and Sports, feels a strong momentum for Berlin's bid, hoping it'll sweep through sports clubs, associations, the economy, and societal organizations. But Berlin ain't the only candidate—Munich, Hamburg, and North Rhine-Westphalia with the region of Rhine and Ruhr are in the running too.
Thomas Weikert, President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), praised the bid but found himself in a sticky spot, due to his neutral stance. He hinted at the quality of the other candidates by adding, "We have four very good bids... We will definitely select a very strong candidate from them through a yet-to-be-named committee."
But before we get carried away, remember the DOSB's decision is still up in the air. The final call will be made in autumn 2026, and only after that, the DOSB members will cast their votes. So, how does the countdown begin for the games of our lifetime? Stay tuned!
- Despite the ongoing resistance from the community group "NOlympia Berlin," aiming to block the Olympics from happening in Berlin and forcing a public referendum, Thomas Härtel, President of the Berlin State Sports Association, is optimistic about collecting the required 20,000 signatures within six months.
- Iris Spranger, Senator for the Interior and Sports, is confident about the strong momentum for Berlin's Olympic bid, hoping it will resonate with sports clubs, associations, the economy, and societal organizations across the city and beyond, in a bid to secure a popular victory against the rival cities.
