Berlin’s state parliament has formally approved the city’s bid to host the Olympic Games, targeting an event to coincide with or follow the 100th anniversary of the 1936 Games, which were staged by the Nazis.
“Our bid is a genuine promise for future generations,” Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner declared during the 90-minute debate preceding Thursday’s vote. “We want positive development for Berlin.”
Wegner’s CDU party garnered support from rival SPD members and the far-right AfD for the Olympic plans, which he first unveiled last May at the very stadium where Jesse Owens famously defied Adolf Hitler during the 1936 Games.
The city’s government endorsed a concept this month that largely relies on existing sports facilities and proposes utilising iconic landmarks such as the city park at the former Tempelhof airport.
Financial projections estimate costs at €4.82 billion (£4.1 billion), with anticipated revenue of €5.24 billion (£4.5 billion), yielding a net profit of approximately €420 million (£360 million). A quarter of this profit is earmarked for the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“If we put on a summer fairy tale for the world, then it’s a chance for the world,” Wegner added.
However, the proposals faced opposition from politicians representing the Left party and the Greens.
They raised concerns about the significant financial risks associated with hosting the Olympics, criticising what they termed “empty promises” and “castles in the air”, according to news agency DPA.
Tobias Schulze of the Left party highlighted that the last three Olympic Games had exceeded initial cost estimates by more than double, also pointing out that many proposed venues would require substantial renovation.
Organisers have opted against holding a public referendum on the bid. Berlin’s proposal is one of four from Germany – alongside Munich, Hamburg, and North Rhine-Westphalia – that the German Olympic Sports Confederation will consider on 26 September for submission to the IOC.
Germany is aiming to host the Games in either 2036, 2040, or 2044.
