Article by Elisabeth Polivka 10b (24.09.2026)

In only two days the German Olympic board will decide which German city they will choose for their application to host the Summer Olympic and Paralympic games. Berlin has already created vague plans for grand ideas such as golden staircases and ramps. Whether they meet the Olympic Board’s requirements and if the public even wants Berlin to apply will be covered in the following article.  

In order to even host the Olympic Games, Germany has to fulfil the games' criteria and requirements. The committee does not merely require applicants to build large facilities and have unrealistic plans but instead values the use of existing facilities and sustainability. They want potential hosts to display suitable transport, accommodation, security, healthcare, technology and operational infrastructure and provide credible financial and governmental guarantees. In the past years the Olympics have shifted their focus from merely creating memorable games to sustainability, human rights, accessibility and ensuring that the games concur with hosts' long-term development plans. If these criteria are met, the committee has to decide on a host. This process has also changed, as in the past host cities would compete with extensive bids. Currently the cities talk with their national Olympic committee about their plans as well as the IOC (International Olympic Committee). Once these informal talks are complete, they go into a stage called continuous dialogue.  Here they develop loose plans for future games. Continue to Target Dialogue. In this stage they move on to detailed talks in which they discuss the specifics of the criteria such as venues and transportation. Then the executive board makes a recommendation on a preferred host at the IOC session where the vote ultimately happens. 

The Paris Olympics introduced something called a legacy plan in which they highlighted the lasting impact of the games. This aligns with the shift in interests of the IOC. Their goal was to create economic, social, environmental and urban benefits. Major parts of this were the conversion of the Olympic village to permanent housing, programs that encourage physical movement and sports, and the use of temporary or existing venues, avoiding the construction of new ones. The French government chose Paris, as it already had 95% of the required venues, largely avoiding new construction as well as the Olympics being an opportunity to further gender equality, disability sports and inclusion. They also emphasised that the Olympic Games would further the infrastructure and community of Paris and the surrounding area.   

I think we all remember how sensational the Paris Olympics were. Part of this was the decision to host specific events near famous landmarks such as the beach volleyball court near the Eiffel Tower. However, this method slightly backfired when they were cleaning the Seine for the athletes to swim in. The citizens fought back against this by threatening to intentionally pollute the river. This was due to the 1.4€ billion invested into cleaning the river and building lasting infrastructure as part of their legacy plan. Despite this, due to heavy rainfall, the bacteria level remained unsafe, and the men's triathlon had to be postponed by 24 hours.       

Now looking at what Germany's application even looks like, our application is for 2036, 2040 or 2044. The specific focus of the games would be social cohesion, health, education, participation and economic and environmental development through sports. Four concepts for this have been developed by Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Rhine-Ruhr. The German Olympic Board has a process containing multiple stages for their ultimate decision. All four have passed the first of these. This included going through 160 different venues and 20 other facilities, while the second stage could include public opinion, while in the end the decision will be based on competitiveness against other international hosts and economic benefits.  

Hamburg’s concept was mainly based on integrating the games into a green environment as well as incorporating it being a waterfront city. However, they withdrew their application due to a public referendum. 54.9% voted against hosting the summer games. A similar vote was cast in 2015 when the citizens voted against an application to host the 2024 games. Both Munich and Rhine-Ruhr also issued a public referendum with a positive response to their application. 

Munich's bid is mainly based on the idea that they can build up on the existing infrastructure from the 1972 Olympics. They also argue about their relationship between elite athleticism, research, technology, sustainability and long-term legacy. The Technical University of Munich’s (TUM) proposed role includes sports science, athlete performance, injury prevention, technology and innovation through the Munich Performance & Innovation Hub, while the broader bid is described as an opportunity to stimulate sustainable infrastructure, participation in sport, health, education and social cohesion. Munich also argues that they would minimise travel over large areas, as the games would take place in a singular city.

The Rhein-Ruhr Region mainly based their application on the exact opposite. They say that they have a large region in which the games would take place and this. Allowing a larger community to take part in the athletic competition and a larger variety of venues. It also mentioned their long history of sporting culture and large population. 

Berlin’s bid is based on its reputation as a diverse capital that combines multiple aspects of the country. Major Kai Wegner said, "We are also convinced that our city is the one with the greatest international appeal, exactly the right city with which you can go into an international race. And one with which one should, if you want to host the Olympic and Paralympic games in Germany.” The AGH and Senate both unanimously voted for the application of the German Capitol. The plan is to collaborate with other surrounding states and create very diverse games in which they make use of already existing infrastructure and take the games as a chance to renew such venues. The budget has also already been set to 6 million. 

While these ideas all seem quite spectacular and follow a similar plan as the Legacy program of Paris, they are still met with backlash. Olympic gold medallist Christofer Harting says, "The IOC has always looked for profit over anything else in the past." He and the initiative NOlympia are trying to prevent the hosting of these athletic games in the nation's capitol. While Berlin promises to invest in sustainability and break up school gyms or local swimming halls. Sceptics question whether these funds will actually reach those in need and do not want money invested into golden staircases when children do not have the ability to take part in sport activities. We can say from firsthand experience that it is quite inconvenient not to have access to a gym as a school, and we could hope to see a change. The critics also point out that even if this takes place it will be the IOC and not the local communities deciding on how these venues are to be refurbished and improved. An official public referendum could only take place in 2027. Uwe Hikisch from NOlympia does not see this as an issue, “as I believe that the DOSB (German Olympic Committee) will take this backlash into account and might not even choose Berlin.”   

The Paris Olympics showed exactly how the games can improve and further society, and we used this international sporting event to support local infrastructure and sustainability. However, they were not perfect, as many protested against the costly investment in the Seine. As Berlin and the surrounding area already have 97% of the required infrastructure, a majority of the funding could flow into the refurbishment of small community and school gyms. Whether this will be executed for the community's welfare is currently being heatedly debated. On the 26th of September the decision on whether Berlin will even be Germany‘s choice will fall. What do you think? Should Berlin host Olympia?

Picture sources: 

“Olympia.” Tagesspiegel, www.tagesspiegel.de/images/15557736/alternates/BASE_1_1_W1000/1777976310000/olympia-ppt-kpb-auszug-3-2-16.jpeg.

“Olympia-ppt.” Tagesspiegel, www.tagesspiegel.de/images/15557739/alternates/BASE_4_3_W600/ 1777976377000/olympia-ppt-kpb-auszug-3-2-15.jpeg.

“Olympiabad-Berlin-Charlottenburg.” Entwicklungsstadt, entwicklungsstadt.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Olympiabad-Berlin-Charlottenburg- %C2%A9-Lindner-Planungsbuero-1.jpg.

“Berlin-Olympia.” Sparknews Funkemedien, img.sparknews.funkemedien.de/413217497/413217497_1790168236_v1_1_400 .jpeg.

           Sources: 

Olympic Bid. www.dosb.de/en/themen/olympic-bid. 

“Requirements to host the Olympic Games.” International Olympic Committee, www.olympics.com/ioc/becoming-an-olympic-games-host/requirements-to-host-the-olympic-games. Accessed 24 Sept. 2026.

“Olympic Host Contract.” International Olympic Committee, International Olympic Committee, stillmed.olympics.com/media/Documents/Olympic-Games/Brisbane-2032/Host-Contract/Host-City-Contract-2032-Principles.pdf . Accessed 24 Sept. 2026. 

“The Process to Elect Olympic Hosts.” International Olympic Committee, www.olympics.com/ioc/becoming-an-olympic-games-host/the-process-to-elect-olympic-hosts.  Accessed 24 Sept. 2026.

“Berlin Senate Approves Plan for Olympic Bid.” berlin.de, www.berlin.de/en/news/10364038-5559700-berlin-senate-approves-plan-for-olympic-.en.html. 

“‘Fit for the Future’: New Methodology for Determining Olympic Programme and Strengthened Host Selection Process Proposed.” International Olympic Committee, www.olympics.com/ioc/news/fit-for-the-future-new-methodology-for-determining-olympic-programme-and-strengthened-host-selection-process-proposed.  Accessed 24 Sept. 2026.

“Olympic Games host selection process made fit for the future: new transitional stage added and 2036 Olympic host to be elected in 2029.” International Olympic Committee, www.olympics.com/ioc/news/olympic-games-host-selection-process-made-fit-for-the-future.  Accessed 24 Sept. 2026.

“Four Concepts for Germany.” Dafür Sein Ist Alles, 11 Sept. 2025, deutschland20xx.de/en/news/four-concepts. 

“Why host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris?” info.gouv.fr, Mar. 2024, www.info.gouv.fr/grand-dossier/paris-2024-olympic-and-paralympic-games/why-host-the-2024-olympics-in-paris . Accessed 24 Sept. 2026.

“Independent Study Reveals Olympic Games Paris 2024 ‘Economically Beneficial’ for Host Region.” International Olympic Committee, www.olympics.com/ioc/news/independent-study-reveals-olympic-games-paris-2024-economically-beneficial-for-host-region.  Accessed 24 Sept. 2026.

“The Incredible Venues of Paris 2024.” International Olympic Committee, www.olympics.com/athlete365/news/paris2024/the-incredible-venues-of-paris-2024.  Accessed 24 Sept. 2026.

Hellmich, Paul. “Making the Case for Munich’s Olympic Bid.” TUM, 22 July 2026, www.tum.de/en/news-and-events/all-news/press-releases/details/making-the-case-for-munichs-olympic-bid. 

- YouTube. m.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ47XqKYY0c&pp=ygUYQmVybGlucyBvbHlwaWEgYmV2ZXJidW5n&ra=m. 

rbb24.de. “Berliner Olympia-Konzept Sieht Eröffnungsfeier Auf Tempelhofer Feld Vor.” Rbb24, Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, Berlin, Germany, 5 May 2026, www.rbb24.de/sport/beitrag/2026/05/berlin-olympia-bewerbung-konzept-eroeffnung-tempelhofer-feld.html. 

Schöbel, Sebastian. “Berlin Spekuliert Spektakulär Auf Olympia.” Rbb24, Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, Berlin, Germany, 6 May 2026, www.rbb24.de/sport/beitrag/2026/05/olympia-bewerbung-berlin-einschaetzung-kosten-umsetzbarkeit.html. 

---. “Olympia-Berlin.” Rbb24 - Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, 20 June 2026, www.rbb24.de/sport/beitrag/2026/06/olympia-berlin-delegation-dosb-sportverbaende-politik.html.