Berlin withdraws bid for Olympic Games
The German capital pulls out, public broadcaster rbb reports, before the DOSB chooses the national candidate on Saturday.
Berlin is withdrawing from Germany’s race to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044. The German Olympic Sports Confederation must therefore choose between Munich and KölnRheinRuhr on 26 September.
rbb, part of Germany’s public broadcasting system, reported the withdrawal on Wednesday. According to the report, Berlin’s chances had declined after the evaluation committee rated the Berlin+ concept the weakest of the three remaining plans.
Berlin’s bid was submitted together with Brandenburg, Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The plan was intended for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044. Berlin’s Abgeordnetenhaus had previously expressed support for the bid by a two-thirds majority.
The DOSB published its assessment on 22 September. Munich received 87.03 out of 100 points, KölnRheinRuhr 85.02 and Berlin+ 74.64. The first two plans were rated ‘very good’; Berlin+ received the rating ‘good’.
The timing is politically sensitive. Elif Eralp, the election winner from Die Linke, again spoke out against the Games in Berlin, according to rbb. Alongside the technical sporting assessment and international profile, local support for the bid therefore became more important.
Berlin initially presented the bid as a way to renew sports venues, infrastructure and the city as a whole. The city wanted to work with several federal states and make use of existing venues. Opponents instead warned of costs, lengthy construction projects and pressure on urban space.
The German Olympic process now changes significantly. The DOSB still has to choose between Munich and KölnRheinRuhr on Saturday. The selected candidate can then take part on Germany’s behalf in the international process leading to the International Olympic Committee. According to the DOSB, the final international award is not scheduled until 2029.
Berlin’s decision shows that an Olympic bid is not just a sporting project. Its viability also depends on political support, financial credibility and whether residents and administrators see the plan as a public benefit.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- According to rbb, Berlin withdrew from the German Olympic selection process.
- The DOSB evaluation gave Berlin+ a lower score than Munich and KölnRheinRuhr.
- The DOSB decision on the German candidate is scheduled for 26 September.
- The proposed Games would take place in 2036, 2040 or 2044.
Left
Arguments Berlin’s withdrawal confirms that major sporting events are only responsible when costs, housing pressure and urban consequences have been convincingly addressed. A city should not be forced to place prestige above everyday public services.
Values Affordable city, public investment, social justice and democratic consent.
Consequences Fewer mega-projects may limit financial risks, but leave opportunities for infrastructure and sports development unused.
Centre
Arguments An Olympic bid can proceed only with a solid business case, transparent financing and broad political support. The DOSB procedure seeks to combine sporting quality with social acceptance.
Values Institutional diligence, feasibility, continuity and a balance between ambition and risk.
Consequences A rigorous selection process can produce a more credible German bid, but excludes cities that cannot organise their support in time.
Right
Arguments Germany must dare to host major international events to strengthen national pride, sports infrastructure and its international profile. Political opposition should not block an opportunity for the capital too easily.
Values National ambition, competition, international reputation and economic dynamism.
Consequences A strong bid can attract investment and tourism, but requires firm guarantees against cost overruns and prolonged vacancies.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The current withdrawal is based on rbb reporting; the background and scores come from official DOSB documents. Where formal confirmation by Berlin is missing, this is explicitly stated.
- confirmed Berlin is withdrawing before the DOSB vote on 26 September. — Reported by rbb/Sportschau. source
- confirmed Berlin+ received 74.64 points, compared with 87.03 for Munich and 85.02 for KölnRheinRuhr. — The scores appear in the official DOSB evaluation. source
- confirmed Berlin submitted the bid with Brandenburg, Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. — This is described by rbb and the DOSB. source
- confirmed According to the DOSB, the international award is scheduled for 2029. — Mentioned in the DOSB publication on the three German concepts. source
Editor's note
The withdrawal was reported by rbb as a current development. The DOSB confirms the assessment scores and timetable; at the time of publication, a separate formal statement from Berlin had not yet been found.Sources
- Berlin will Olympia-Bewerbung zurückziehen — Sportschau/rbb
- Olympische und Paralympische Spiele: Drei starke Konzepte für Deutschland — Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund
- DOSB begrüßt Beschluss des Berliner Abgeordnetenhauses zur Olympiabewerbung — Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „berlijn olympische spelen”
- NU.nl — „berlijn olympische spelen”
- De Telegraaf — „berlijn olympische spelen”