Yes to Olympics: Munich Decides on Hosting Future Summer Games

In parallel with the referendum on hosting the Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria's Minister President Markus Söder (CSU) once again promoted the plans on Sunday. "This is a great opportunity," he wrote on social media.In parallel with the referendum on hosting the Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria's Minister President Markus Söder (CSU) once again promoted the plans on Sunday.

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"This is a great opportunity – for Munich, for Bavaria, for all of Germany," Söder wrote on his social media accounts. "Therefore: Yes to the Olympics!"On Sunday, Munich residents will vote on whether the Bavarian capital should bid to host the Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

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They can vote yes or no on a bid for the 2036, 2040, or 2044 Summer Games. For the referendum to be valid, however, at least 10 percent of eligible voters must participate.The German Olympic Sports Confederation and the German federal government are pushing for a German bid. The backdrop is the widely regarded success of last year's Summer Olympics in the French capital Paris.

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However, a German bid is controversial. The Summer Olympics have already been held twice – in 1936 under the Nazis in Berlin and in 1972 in Munich.In addition to the CSU, led by Söder as party leader, the SPD, the Free Voters, the AfD, and the FDP are also clearly in favor of an Olympic bid. The Greens emphasize the opportunities but also see risks. The Left Party opposes the project.

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It is one of the founders of the Nolympia initiative, which is supported by, among others, the environmental organization Bund and an alliance of Munich citizens' initiatives. In addition to Munich, Berlin, the Rhine-Ruhr region, and Hamburg also want to host the event, with Kiel hosting the sailing competitions. With the exception of Berlin, referendums are also planned in the other cities, but not until next year.

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The decision on the German candidate region will not be made until autumn 2026. The International Olympic Committee will decide whether the Games will be awarded to Germany at a date yet to be determined.

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