Ready, Set, Berlin! The Popular Push for the City's Olympic Bid
Preparing Public Initiative for Olympic Bid by LSB - Preparation Underway for Popular Initiative Regarding the Olympics by LSB
The Berlin State Sports Association (LSB) is drumming up public support for the city's Olympic bid. "We're launching a popular initiative because, you know, Senate-led citizens' initiatives have constitutional constraints," said LSB President Thomas Härtel at their summer bash, held at the Manfred von Richthofen House.
To get the ball rolling, the LSB needs to collect 20,000 signatures within six months to prompt the House of Representatives to engage in discussions about the Olympic bid. Given its whopping 809,000 members, Härtel isn't too worried about reaching their signature goal.
The LSB presented a preliminary concept back in May, and they've already started examining the feasibility of a popular initiative.
Momentum is building, Spranger reckons
Senator for Interior and Sports, Iris Spranger, also spoke at the event, and she sense a wave gaining traction for the Olympic bid. The SPD politician hopes this enthusiasm will whip Berlin's sports clubs, associations, economy, and many other social organizations into action.
Alongside Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and North Rhine-Westphalia with the Rhine-Ruhr region are also in the running to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, all under the "Berlin+" label.
DOSB's Weikert finds himself in a tough spot
Thomas Weikert, President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), gave a nod to Berlin's bid concept, stating, "Berlin, buddy, you've put together a top-notch bid." However, Weikert found himself in a sticky situation during the reception due to his neutral stance—he's playing it cool. He quickly added, "We've got four killer bids in the ring. Our secret committee is gonna pick a winner from the bunch."
The final call will be made by autumn 2026, and the DOSB members will vote on the matter. It's undecided whether the bid targets the 2036, 2040, or 2044 Games.
NOlympia plans another round
Apart from the LSB's popular initiative, Olympic critics are planning a citizens' initiative to block the Games in Berlin. The "NOlympia Berlin" initiative aims to nix the Olympic Games in the city.
Intriguingly, Berlin's joint bid with several partner states—Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein—promotes a sustainable concept utilizing existing facilities and temporary installations. Still, Berlin’s Green Party politician Klara Schedlich claims that the city should prioritize refurbishing and rejuvenating existing sports facilities before focusing on the Olympic dream. She cites concerns such as 55 sports halls closed due to structural defects and a renovation deficit exceeding €410 million.
There's also an active movement opposed to the bid called 'NOlympia Berlin,' suggesting that the Games aren't universally welcomed in the city.
- The LSB's President, Thomas Härtel, believes the 809,000 members of the Berlin State Sports Association will help gather the necessary 20,000 signatures for the popular initiative, due to constitutional constraints of Senate-led citizens' initiatives, for the city's Olympic bid.
- Iris Spranger, Senator for Interior and Sports, expressed her hope that the enthusiasm for the Olympic bid will mobilize sports clubs, associations, the economy, and other social organizations, as the momentum for the popular initiative continues to build.
