A new sports campus is to be built on Hamburg’s Dulsberg, which will fundamentally renovate the Olympic base. With federal funds amounting to double-digit millions, the location is being strategically expanded for top and junior competitive sports and at the same time integrated into Hamburg’s Olympic plans.
Around 200 athletes are currently training at the Olympic base on Dulsberg, primarily in the main sports of beach volleyball, hockey, swimming, badminton and rowing. In the future, further federal bases are to come to Hamburg. / © Photo: depositphotos.com
© Photo: depositphotos.com
© Photo cover image: Wikimedia Commons, Claus-Joachim Dickow, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein Olympic base at Dulsberg is facing profound change. The existing location is to be demolished and replaced by a modern, barrier-free new building. The project is complemented by a new house for athletes, which creates additional living and overnight accommodation. In total, around 200 athletes train at the location and will be looked after under modern conditions in the future.
The federal government is supporting the project with a total of 11.3 million euros. Of this, 9.64 million euros are for the construction costs and another 1.68 million euros for the equipment. The corresponding funding notice has now been received in Hamburg. Construction is currently expected to begin in the second half of 2027. Acts as the implementation vehicle GMH | Building Management Hamburg GmbH.
Olympic base at Dulsberg: Central role in the German top sports system
The Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein Olympic base is one of the 13 Olympic bases in Germany. Since its founding in 1988, it has been a cross-sport service facility for federal squad athletes and their trainers. In addition to the location on Dulsberg, there are other training centers in Kiel-Schilksee and in Ratzeburg at the rowing academy.
The current focus is on sports such as beach volleyball, hockey, swimming, badminton and rowing. In the future, further federal bases are to be brought to Hamburg. The Olympic base offers a comprehensive range of care that includes sports medicine, training science, physiotherapy, sports psychology and social aspects.
Renewal of the base is part of the “Active City Strategy”
The renewal of the location is in progress „Active City Strategie“ of the Hamburg Senate. The aim is to continuously improve the conditions for competitive sports and to remain internationally competitive. At the same time, the city is pursuing a long-term approach to promote sport and exercise throughout the population and to specifically support young people.
Sports Senator Andy Grote made it clear that the new Olympic base should pave the way to top performance for many Hamburg athletes. He viewed the federal government’s significant participation as a clear signal of Hamburg’s importance in top national sport.
Olympic plans: Hamburg wants to strengthen competitive sports in the long term and structurally
The expansion of the Olympic base fits into a larger sports policy context. Hamburg is applying to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044. The German Olympic Sports Confederation has already confirmed to the city that all formal requirements have been met. The concept is now being further developed and discussed publicly.
The core of the approach is the “HAMBURG+” mission statement, which focuses on sustainability, short distances and the use of existing infrastructure. The process is accompanied by extensive participation formats in all districts as well as digital offerings. On May 31, 2026, the people of Hamburg will decide in a referendum whether the city will officially enter the international application process. The planned sports campus on Dulsberg can be seen as an early signal that Hamburg wants to strengthen competitive sports in the long term and structurally.
Olympic base Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein
Sources: Hamburg Ministry of the Interior and Sport, Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein Olympic Base, Wikipedia, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Citizenship of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
