Sport Minister Faeser signs Joint Declaration for Germany’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games

Federal Government supports the DOSB’s joint bidding process with interested cities and federal states

From left to right: Torsten Burmester (CEO of the German Olympic Sports Confederation), Nancy Faeser (Federal Minister of the Interior) and Thomas Weikert (President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation). Photo: Team D/picture-alliance/Frank May

On the occasion of the Olympic Games in Paris, Federal Minister of the Interior and Sport Minister Nancy Faeser visited the German House today, where she signed, on behalf of the Federal Government, the Joint Declaration (Memorandum of Understanding / MoU) for Germany’s bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This marks another important milestone for the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) on its way to a joint bid with the interested cities and federal states.

Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser said: “We want another Home Match for our German athletes. The Federal Government stands united behind a new German bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We want to seize the wonderful opportunities that the Olympic Games offer to enhance our social cohesion, to stimulate our economy and to elevate sport. We want to use the best stadiums and sports facilities our country has to offer. Rather than spending a lot of money on building new facilities, our focus is on sustainability.

Right now in Paris, we are witnessing how the Games inspire millions of people and bring them together peacefully. And that’s exactly what we have just recently demonstrated with the men’s European Football Championship: Germany is a sporting nation and a great host. I am certain that, together with the German Olympic Sports Confederation and the cities and federal states involved, we will launch a strong bid.”

President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation Thomas Weikert said: “We are relieved and pleased that the intensive discussions at various levels over the past few months have now paid off. The signing of the Joint Declaration and the clear cross-party commitment of the Federal Government and the Federal Chancellor to Germany’s bid sends an important and motivating message, both in Germany and on the international stage.”

CEO of the German Olympic Sports Confederation Torsten Burmester said: “The Federal Government’s financial pledges for a German Olympic bid send an important message. The majority of the funds will be used to continue the dialogue process and to finance participation measures, because the Federal Government and the German Olympic Sports Confederation both place importance on the long-term involvement of society in developing a strategy. The success of Germany’s bid depends on a large part of the public showing its support.”

The Federal Government decided by cabinet decision last week to support a new German bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Joint Declaration defines the further cooperation between the partners involved in a joint Olympic bid.

The Joint Declaration was closely coordinated between the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, the German Olympic Sports Confederation, the cities of Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich and the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria. It also acts as a guideline for a hosting strategy, which is yet to be developed. The agreed premises of the bid are based on the goals of creating added value for the entire country and managing resources in a sustainable manner. The aim is to use existing sports facilities to the greatest extent possible. Another essential element of the Declaration is the close involvement of the public in the bidding process.

The Federal Government would like to host the Games in Germany in 2040 – 50 years after German unification.The German Olympic Sports Confederation has not yet decided on a specific year. Between 2024 and 2027, the Federal Government will provide around seven million euros for the bid. Among other things, these funds will be used to develop a bidding strategy and to finance the relevant feasibility studies.

The German Olympic Sports Confederation will now conduct more talks with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to discuss the scenarios that have been developed for a German Olympic bid thus far. This includes, for example, an analysis of the bidding situation.

During the Olympic Games in Paris, the German Olympic Sports Confederation is also presenting the STOP THE CLOCK campaign. This initiative, which is supported by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, tells the story of emotional moments in German Olympic history since the last Summer Games in Germany, which took place in Munich in 1972.

The Joint Declaration can be found here (in German only):

www.bmi.bund.de/gemeinsame-erklaerung

The STOP THE CLOCK initiative can be found here: