Germany sets sights on hosting 2036 or 2040 Olympics with regional support

Berlin, in collaboration with the federal states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Schleswig-Holstein, is set to propose a bid for hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in either 2036 or 2040.

This joint effort, which includes multiple regions, was announced by Iris Spranger, Berlin’s Senator for Interior, Digitalisation, and Sport, in the House of Representatives on March 14, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

"We are in very, very close contact with these federal states at the working level," Spranger said. "It should be a national bid. Berlin is not applying alone, but as part of a joint effort."

The plan involves using Berlin as the central venue, with the Athlete’s Village located in the capital. However, several other venues across the four participating regions would host various events, a concept known as the "One Village Concept." The German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) is overseeing the proposal and will have the final decision on the bid’s structure.

This announcement follows the collapse of a joint bid involving Berlin and Hamburg for the 2040 Games. The proposal would have seen the two cities representing East and West Germany, marking 50 years since the reunification of the country following the fall of the Berlin Wall. However, it is reported that Berlin withdrew from the project, opting instead for the multi-city approach without including Hamburg. Despite this, Hamburg is still reportedly considering submitting its own bid for the Games, potentially collaborating with neighboring Schleswig-Holstein and other northern German states.

Interested cities and regions must submit their applications to the DOSB by May 31. These submissions will be reviewed by September, and a vote will follow by DOSB members. Those selected will then have until June 2026 to refine their proposals before the final vote, with the chosen bid to be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during their general assembly in December 2026.

So far, several countries have entered the race for the 2036 Games, including Türkiye (Istanbul), Chile (Santiago), Indonesia (Nusantara), and India. South Korea, Italy, South Africa, Hungary, Egypt, Denmark, Canada, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have also expressed interest in competing for the 2036 Games.

By Tamilla Hasanova