Four German cities and regions are formally initiating a bid for the Summer Olympic Games in 2036, 2040, or 2044, signaling a potential resurgence of large-scale sporting events within the nation. This ambition arrives amidst surprisingly robust public support, with a recent Forsa poll commissioned by “Der Stern” revealing 72% of Germans would welcome the return of the Games, a stark contrast to the only 22% who express opposition. The remaining 6% offered no opinion. Notably, this enthusiasm spans across all age demographics and political affiliations, suggesting a broadly shared aspiration for a major international spectacle.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) is slated to make a critical decision regarding the favored candidate in autumn of next year. Preliminary findings suggest Munich currently holds the strongest position amongst potential host cities, garnering support from 39% of those surveyed. The Ruhr region, a historically significant industrial area, follows with 24%, while Berlin and Hamburg secure 19% and 11% respectively.
However, the geographic distribution of support reveals potential complications for the eventual bid. Munich consistently performs strongly, particularly in southern and central Germany, where it enjoys 64% and 51% favorability respectively. The Ruhr region benefits from strong backing within North Rhine-Westphalia, at 55%. Berlin currently enjoys a slight edge within eastern Germany (36%) and Hamburg similarly amongst northern Germans (34%).
This patchy regional support highlights a potential challenge for DOSB’s decision. While a bid emanating from Munich or the Ruhr region seems to enjoy broader national acceptance, the prospect of Berlin or Hamburg hosting the Games currently evokes significantly less enthusiasm within their own regions. This disparity raises questions about the viability of supporting a bid lacking organic, grassroots support within its proposed host area and suggests that any eventual selection will require careful consideration of the political and regional complexities beyond simple popularity polls. The decision will inevitably be weighed against concerns about escalating costs and legacy issues – concerns that, although largely sidelined by the current wave of enthusiasm, could resurface depending on the chosen candidate.