DOSB Evaluation Scores Munich and Köln-Rhein-Ruhr as Top Contenders
Ahead of the upcoming vote on Saturday at an extraordinary general assembly in Baden-Baden, the DOSB evaluation commission released its comprehensive scoring matrix developed alongside federal authorities. Munich claimed the leading position with 87 points, closely followed by the Köln-Rhein-Ruhr bid with 85 points. Both regional concepts earned an overall rating of “very good.”
Berlin finished significantly behind its rivals, securing 74.6 points and a rating of “good,” according to dpa reporting. The evaluation results were initially broken by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung before wider confirmation across German media outlets.
Key Scoring Categories and Commission Stakeholders
The evaluation matrix incorporated several critical operational and strategic criteria, including international competitive viability, public and regional backing, and technical sports infrastructure. Evaluators also examined operational metrics such as transit times between competition venues, local hotel capacities, and athlete lodging options.
The evaluation commission combined sports officials and political representatives. Voting members included DOSB President Thomas Weikert, DOSB Chief Executive Otto Fricke, Babette Kibele from the State Ministry of Sports, and Bundestag Vice President Josephine Ortleb (SPD). Final candidate concepts had been submitted by early June.
Political Dynamics and Stakeholder Reactions
Munich Mayor Dominik Krause welcomed the commission’s findings, noting that Munich’s Olympic vision is gaining momentum. Krause emphasized that while Köln-Rhein-Ruhr presented a very strong concept, Munich holds an advantage in international competitiveness and provides a globally competitive offering for Germany.
Berlin entered the final stretch carrying substantial political headwinds. Unlike Munich and Nordrhein-Westfalen, the capital region bypassed a local referendum. Although Berlin’s House of Representatives backed the bid under the prior governing coalition, the political landscape shifted following recent local elections. With left-wing and Green parties opposing an Olympic candidacy, Berlin faced distinct risks of political fracture prior to any formal selection by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Meanwhile, Hamburg’s Olympic ambitions had previously stalled following a public referendum defeat in May.
The Path to Saturday’s Decisive Vote in Baden-Baden
While the evaluation commission’s assessment provides a crucial benchmark, the ranking remains non-binding for the final decision. The upcoming vote rests with a broader voting body convening in Baden-Baden on Saturday. The electorate comprises representatives from 42 Olympic sports governing bodies, eight personal members—including professional footballer Leon Goretzka and Olympic hockey champion Moritz Fürste—and the executive committee of the DOSB.
