Munich Backs Olympia Bid: Referendum Results

Munich wants the Olympic Games: In a referendum on Sunday in the Bavarian capital, a clear majority voted in favor of an application for the Summer Olympics and Paralympic Summer Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044, announced Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD). “Munich clearly voted yes,” said Reiter before the end of the counting – so approval in all polling stations counted so far was over 60 percent.

According to Reiter, participation in the referendum reached a record high; by 5:30 p.m. the voter turnout was 39.1 percent, which is higher than at any previous referendum in Munich. The required quorum of at least ten percent of the approximately 1.1 million eligible voters was thus significantly exceeded.

After the Summer Olympics in Paris last year, the German Olympic Sports Confederation and the federal government campaigned for a German application. In addition to Munich, Berlin, the Rhine-Ruhr region and Hamburg also want to host, and the sailing competitions are to take place in Kiel. With the exception of Berlin, referendums are also planned in other places, but not until next year. The decision on the applicant region will be made in autumn 2026.

The International Olympic Committee will decide at an as yet unknown date whether the games will be awarded to Germany. There have been two Summer Olympics in Germany – in 1936 under the National Socialists in Berlin and 1972 in Munich.

The supporters argued, among other things, with the impulses for urban development that should be achieved through financial aid from the federal and state governments. Proponents also argued with new living space and improvements in local public transport. The opponents had argued against the threat of rising rents and living costs as well as further indebtedness for Munich. In 2013, these arguments failed – at that time, the people of Munich and the communities in the Alpine region voted against an application for the Winter Olympics.