München has been selected as the official German candidate city for an upcoming bid to host the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, 2040, or 2044. The Bavarian capital secured the nomination during an extraordinary general assembly of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) held in Baden-Baden, overcoming a rival bid from the KölnRheinRuhr region with a decisive 91 to 50 vote in a secret ballot.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced the decision alongside DOSB President Thomas Weikert, calling the national candidature a “Riesenchance für ganz Deutschland”. The selection narrows down Germany’s pursuit to return the Summer Games to the nation for the first time since Munich hosted the event in 1972.
The Path to Selection and the Baden-Baden Vote
Prior to the secret ballot, Munich was widely considered the favorite following a positive evaluation by the DOSB’s expert commission, which judged the city’s concept to be best suited among the remaining contenders. The evaluation report noted that Munich’s proposed venue layout scored just slightly ahead of the KölnRheinRuhr bid.
Under the finalized candidate blueprint, nearly all athletic competitions will take place within Bavaria, with two notable exceptions: football matches are slated for Stuttgart, while sailing events will be hosted in Kiel, according to details released during the assembly. National support proved decisive for the Bavarian capital. Last October, a local public referendum yielded a two-thirds majority in favor of the Olympic plans, reversing the trend of previous bids, such as Munich’s failed 2013 referendum for the 2022 Winter Games.
DOSB President Thomas Weikert praised the multi-year candidate selection process as modern, transparent, and promising. Meanwhile, federal and regional leaders rallied behind the winning bid. Bavarian Minister President Markus Söder emphasized a unified national effort, stating that the project aims to present Germany collectively as a united partner across the north, south, east, and west. North Rhine-Westphalia Minister President Hendrik Wüst, representing the defeated KölnRheinRuhr region, immediately pledged full support to Munich, declaring that sports had won and that the regional coalition remains committed to helping bring the Games to Germany.
How Rivals Hamburg and Berlin Exited the Race
The race to become Germany’s official applicant began with four regional contenders. Hamburg dropped out early after a public referendum rejected local Olympic plans. Berlin withdrew its bid just two days before the Baden-Baden vote, citing a sharp drop in its evaluation score and a shift in local politics following the recent election of the Left party, whose prospective governing mayor opposes hosting the Games.
With domestic competition settled, the focus for Munich and the DOSB shifts to the international arena. Proponents hope to use iconic existing venues, such as Munich’s historic Olympiapark, alongside the city's global reach to convince the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
International Timeline and Next Checkpoints
The international bidding timeline extends through the end of the decade. The IOC expects to complete its initial shortlist for the 2036 Summer Games by March 2027. A subsequent phase of strategic dialogue will run through late 2028, leading up to the final IOC session in mid-2029.
Uncertainty remains regarding whether the IOC will favor a European or Asian host for 2036, with nations such as India and Katar frequently cited as potential contenders, alongside possible considerations for a dual allocation of the 2036 and 2040 Games. In Europe, competing interests from Budapest, Istanbul, Madrid, northern Great Britain, and Tuscany mean the DOSB must present a refined, financially guaranteed dossier when the window for European candidates opens.
