Your Ideas Cities, Federal States, and the DOSB Sign Memorandum of Understanding
Frankfurt, 2 December – Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Bavaria, as well as Düsseldorf and North Rhine-Westphalia: Five cities and federal states accepted the German Olympic Sports Federation’s (DOSB) invitation to participate in the strategy process regarding the evaluation of a German bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. All partners have signed a “Memorandum of Understanding”, thereby ensuring that they remain part of the roadmap and signaling their willingness to serve as venues in a German bid concept. DOSB President Thomas Weikert also signed the Memorandum of Understanding prior to the DOSB General Assembly on 2 December 2023.
An overview of the signatories representing the respective cities and countries is as follows:
Berlin
Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin
“As the state of Berlin, we fully support the idea of a national bid – Berlin, in cooperation with other cities and regions, would like to be part of the DOSB’s national bid for the 2036 or 2040 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and an open dialog with the public must be central points of importance for the Olympic Games. In the past, Berlin has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to successfully host major events – from the finals in June 2022 to the Special Olympic World Games in summer 2023. After all, Berlin is a sports city – and a city of sports enthusiasts. Therefore, I am convinced that the majority of Berliners will support a national bid, because the Olympic and Paralympic Games can and will build a bridge to recreational sports and to society as a whole.”
Iris Spranger, Senator of the Interior and Sports of the State of Berlin
“This sports metropolis has proven that it is very well suited to hosting major international sporting events for many years. That is due, in part, to our wide-ranging sports facility infrastructure, as well as to our wealth of knowledge regarding how major sporting events should be organized in our city. On that note, I would like to mention the Special Olympics World Games, which took place here in Berlin in June and were regarded as a huge success worldwide. We can only agree to the Olympic and Paralympic Games if they involve the public, are economically viable, and, above all, are sustainable. If the above can be guaranteed, I see a great opportunity for our city. Berlin is ready for the 2036 or 2040 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Hamburg
Andy Grote, Senator of the Interior and Sports, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
Leipzig
Burkhard Jung, Mayor of the City of Leipzig:
“I am confident that our diverse sports landscape, our experience, and our residents’ enthusiasm for sports will contribute to the success of a German bid. The fact that Germany is bidding as a country and not as an individual city is quite appealing: The Olympic spirit can be carried throughout the entire country, and each region can showcase its particular strengths. That will make the Games more sustainable.”
Munich & Bavaria
Dieter Reiter, Mayor of the City of Munich
“Munich has what it takes to host the Olympic Games. A large majority of the city council agreed on that fact earlier today. I am extremely pleased that we can now officially communicate our interest to the DOSB via the “Memorandum of Understanding”. However, it must be stressed that the people of Munich will ultimately decide whether we submit a bid or not.”
Joachim Herrmann, Minister of the Interior, Sports, and Integration: “In light of past major sports events, such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, I believe the time is right for us to present the world with our vision of what the hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games should look like in the 21st century. Sustainable, ecologically sound, with respect for human rights, and with the necessary support of the public – that’s what the Olympics would look like in Bavaria and Germany, and that’s how the Olympics could create priceless added value for our country. Significantly strengthening the vital role played by sports in our society and getting people excited about sports are matters that are close to my heart. The Olympic and Paralympic Games can, in fact, provide unique impetus that goes far beyond the event itself.”
North Rhine-Westphalia and Düsseldorf
Andrea Milz, State Secretary of Sports and Volunteerism, North Rhine-Westphalia
“We are delighted to be working together with the DOSB, as well as with the participating cities, on a sustainable bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Germany.”
Dr. Stephan Keller, Mayor of the City of Düsseldorf, Federal State Capital of NRW
“A prospective Olympic bid is a very exciting proposition. Düsseldorf has shown, not least with the 2023 Rhine-Ruhr Finals and the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, how much enthusiasm there is for major sporting events here. In addition to ensuring the sustainability of the Games, dialog with citizens is extremely important. The public has to be taken along for the ride and must be in support of it.”
DOSB
Thomas Weikert, President of the German Olympic Sports Federation
“We are delighted to have joined forces with regional and local politicians. Our goal now is to work together with the local authorities and federal states to create a concept that represents the best solution for our country and has the greatest chance of success internationally.”
The “Frankfurt Declaration” was unanimously adopted at the 20th General Assembly of the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) in Frankfurt am Main on Saturday. The delegates have thereby tasked the DOSB with the continuation of the “YOUR IDEAS. YOUR GAMES.” dialog process regarding a possible Olympic bid next year and with the development of a concrete concept, which is scheduled to be presented in summer 2024.
The “Frankfurt Declaration” can be found here.
The press release on the adoption of the “Frankfurt Declaration” by the DOSB General Assembly can be found here.
