DOSB Member Assembly 2024: 5 Rings – 5 Questions

In Saarbrücken, the delegates of the German Olympic Sports Confederation’s (DOSB) member assembly unanimously decided today on the next steps toward a bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Germany:

• Entry into the Continuous Dialogue with the IOC in 2025
• Presentation of at least one bid concept at the DOSB Member Assembly at the end of 2025

Below are the most important questions and answers regarding the resolution passed at the 21st DOSB Member Assembly in Saarbrücken:

1. What is the current status of the German Olympic bid?

With the 2024 member assembly, the DOSB completed the foundational process to develop a new German bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Over the past two years, the conditions for a German bid have been established in many areas.

Foremost among these is the political support at the federal, state, and regional levels. For the first time in history, there is a cabinet decision by the federal government that fully supports a bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This decision also ensures the financial feasibility of such a bid. Until 2027, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI) will support the German Olympic bid with nearly seven million euros.

In addition, the DOSB has succeeded—in an intensive process—in defining the social framework conditions for an Olympic bid and anchoring them in the Frankfurt Declaration. Approval ratings for “Olympia Made in Germany” have continuously risen over the past two years. According to a recent representative survey, they now stand at 71% nationwide.

2. What did the DOSB Member Assembly 2024 decide?

By its resolution, the member assembly commissioned the DOSB to apply in 2025 for entry into the so-called “Continuous Dialogue” with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), provided that the political framework conditions allow. By entering the Continuous Dialogue, the DOSB is officially recognized as an interested party and, in doing so, emphasizes its ambitions on the international stage. During the Continuous Dialogue, the DOSB can, with support from the IOC, improve and refine the existing bid concepts without binding them prematurely to a specific edition or year of the Games.

At the same time, the resolution outlines the next steps toward a new German bid concept. It initially calls for the refinement and evaluation of the existing preliminary concepts. Priority is given to scenarios in which as many athletes as possible would be accommodated in an Olympic or Paralympic Village (the so-called “one-village concepts”). “An Olympic Village, with as many athletes as possible, remains an immensely important part of the DNA of the Summer Games. The Olympic Games in Paris have further reinforced this stance,” said DOSB President Thomas Weikert in Saarbrücken.

3. What was discussed at the Member Assembly?

Laura Ludwig, the 2016 beach volleyball Olympic champion, opened the agenda item “Olympic Bid” with an emotional appeal to the delegates. Ludwig’s inspiring Olympic career includes five participations—from 2008 in Beijing to 2024 in Paris, where she announced the end of her career. What has been missing, she noted, are the Games hosted in one’s own country:
“The Olympic Games are not just about competition; they are a symbol of peace and unity. I long for the Games in Germany for the coming generations. Such a project can bring us together and move mountains. Sport inspires, strengthens, connects. Let us be a role model as a host nation.”

Following this, DOSB President Thomas Weikert emphasized in his speech the importance of the Olympic bid for all of sports in Germany. He thanked those present—and especially the federal government along with the cities and states involved—for their trust in the process. Acknowledging that time had been lost during the process, he asked for understanding. He cited the late support from the federal government, an adjusted strategic orientation of the concepts, and the ongoing discussion about the autonomy of sport as reasons for delaying the presentation of a concept by one year.

On this matter, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser also spoke, stating,
“The autonomy of sport is self-evident in Germany and has always been practiced.”
In doing so, Faeser affirmed on behalf of the federal government the autonomy principles of both the IOC and international sport. She stressed,
“We want to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Germany together. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are a great opportunity. Let us seize this opportunity.”

However, the DOSB President made it clear that the DOSB is “further along than we were in previous years” and is still well on schedule from an international perspective. He also noted that the current federal political situation poses no concerns regarding the Olympic bid:
“Since a bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Berlin receives cross-party support politically, we are confident that a new federal government will also support our bid intentions and include the bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in its coalition agreement.”

4. What are the next steps? When will the DOSB present a bid concept?

The focus in 2025 is initially on the refinement and evaluation of the already developed preliminary concepts by the participating authorities until the end of April. The presentation and selection of at least one bid concept will then take place at the DOSB Member Assembly 2025.

5. How does the international bidding process work?

The bidding process of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games is divided into several dialogue phases.

The “Continuous Dialogue” follows the “Informal Exchange” and is thus the second stage of the IOC’s reformed bidding process. The Continuous Dialogue is a non-binding discussion phase that is not tied to a specific edition; during this phase, the IOC supports all National Olympic Committees interested in hosting the Olympic Games in examining the feasibility of sustainable Games in line with the long-term developmental goals of the respective country. The “Continuous Dialogue,” which can be terminated by either party at any time, does not impose any further obligations on the DOSB or its process partners.

If the discussions and outcomes of the Continuous Dialogue prove positive, the Future Host Commission can recommend to the Executive Board the opening of a “Targeted Dialogue” for a specific edition and year of the Games. At the end of the Targeted Dialogue, the Executive can propose one or more preferred hosts for selection by the IOC Session.