5 Rings – 5 Questions: This Is How the Olympic Bid Will Proceed

The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) is advancing its bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Now, the umbrella organization of German sports presents the next steps and the model for selecting the final concept. We answer the most important questions: We answer the most important questions:

1. What is the current status of Germany’s Olympic bid?

Since 2023, the DOSB has been working intensively on an Olympic bid and has laid the foundation for a successful German application over the past two years. The DOSB’s endeavor enjoys broad support from local, state, and federal politics, the business sector, and large segments of the public.

Now the DOSB is announcing the next steps on the path to a final bid concept. In three stages, it must be decided by no later than autumn 2026 which city or region will enter the international competition for the Games 2036, 2040, or 2044.

2. Where might the Games take place?

Over the past few years, the DOSB—together with the federal government as well as several cities and states—has developed various preliminary concepts. In doing so, concepts were even considered that would see the events distributed across multiple cities.

In light of international competitiveness and the experiences from the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, the DOSB decided last year to focus on concepts with a central venue and an Olympic or Paralympic village that can accommodate as many athletes as possible.

Currently, four different regional concepts are being developed by the respective cities, states, and their partners. The centers of these concepts are the cities of Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and the Rhine-Ruhr region.

Nevertheless, the utilization of existing sports venues will be maximized. In this context, additional locations may also be considered.

3. How will the DOSB decide where the Games will be held?

By the end of May 2025, the four interested cities/regions will submit initial documentation of their concepts. Thereafter, the DOSB will examine whether the concepts meet the operational minimum requirements. In particular, sports venues as well as initial ideas for an Olympic or Paralympic village will be evaluated. The DOSB will assess the submitted concepts by the end of September and present the results at its general assembly on 6 December 2025 in Frankfurt.

In the second stage, the applicants will have the opportunity to hold a referendum until the end of June 2026. Although a positive vote is formally not a prerequisite for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is therefore not required by the DOSB, the organization respects the decision if a local authority wishes—or needs—to conduct such a process to secure the bid. In that case, the DOSB will support this process within its means.

In the final third stage, the ultimate concept will be selected using an evaluation matrix developed jointly with the federal government. Key criteria will be the international competitiveness and the economic viability of the submitted proposals. The decision is expected to be made by autumn 2026.

4. What does the DOSB hope to achieve with a bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games?

The DOSB’s goal is to work together with numerous partners from politics, business, and civil society to create Olympic and Paralympic Games that provide positive momentum in as many areas of our country as possible. In particular, the sports sector is expected to see a variety of developments initiated. The aim is to bring Germany into top form. Central to the bidding process is that while the DOSB selects a bid, it intends to unite the entire country behind the project. This includes demonstrating to the public the value that the Games can bring to society.

5. What are the next international steps?

Germany is an experienced host of major sporting events. Few countries host more world and European championships; additionally, the calendar already includes two international multi-sport events: the World University Games this summer in the Rhine-Ruhr region and Berlin, and the World Games 2029 in Karlsruhe. Since the beginning of this year, the DOSB has been engaged in regular, trustful exchanges with the IOC.

According to the resolution of the general assembly in 2024, the DOSB will enter what is called the “Continuous Dialogue” this year—the next formal phase of the reformed bidding process. With this step, Germany will officially become an interested party on the international stage for hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It is currently still unclear when the IOC will award the Games for 2036 and beyond. For that, the DOSB will await developments under the newly elected IOC President, Kirsty Coventry.