"It's all about finally bringing the Games back to Germany," says Stephan Bause. With this sentence, the Head of the Olympic Bid Office at the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) sums up the motivation of the four bidding cities and regions that have now submitted their rough concepts. In the end, however, only one applicant and one sailing venue are likely to prevail.
Four concepts for the Olympics in Germany
With Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne as part of the Rhine-Ruhr concept, the four most populous cities in Germany are bidding to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games between 2036 and 2044. Their histories in this field are very different: Berlin and Munich have already hosted the Olympic Games. Both times - in 1936 in dark times and in 1972 at the Munich Summit, which was overshadowed by terror - Olympic medals were contested off Kiel.
DOSB President Thomas Weikert said with regard to the quartet of bidders: "This impressively demonstrates the national significance of a bid and the Olympic Movement in Germany and is a sign for us that the added value of major sporting events for society as a whole is being increasingly recognised." All four potential locations have emphasised the social opportunities of a bid for the entire country during the presentations in recent days.
Last week, a DOSB delegation including Executive Board and IOC member Michael Mronz, whom local America's Cup fans may remember as a board member and marketing professional for United Internet Team Germany during the Valencia campaign, and Volker Bouffier, member of the Executive Board with special responsibilities, travelled to the four candidate cities and regions to receive the concepts in person.
Olympics as an opportunity at home
In Berlin The Minister Presidents Dietmar Woidke (Brandenburg), Manuela Schwesig (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) and Daniel Günther (Schleswig-Holstein) as well as Saxony's Interior Minister Armin Schuster were present at the Olympic Stadium on 27 May. Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner said: "The Olympic and Paralympic Games are a great opportunity for Berlin, for Germany and for all of us. We want to bring athletes from all over the world together and set an example for peace, solidarity and freedom." Click here for the Berlin concept.
North Rhine-Westphalia presented its plans on 28 May at the German Sports and Olympic Museum in Cologne. Minister President Hendrik Wüst said: "Our focus is on the athletes. We want to celebrate a big festival for them and with the people of our country. With unprecedented spectator numbers, spectacular sports venues and supported by a sport-loving population." This is where the "Sportland NRW" presents its concept.
Hamburgwhich relies on "short distances" and strong cooperation with Schleswig-Holstein and had its Minister President Daniel Günther on board as a supporter, invited guests to the Green Bunker on 31 May. First Mayor Peter Tschentscher said: "Hamburg is a sports-loving Active City and offers the best conditions for organising modern and sustainable games. I am sure that our city can send out a great signal of diversity and cosmopolitanism, for peace, democracy and freedom." This is where the Hamburg-based company demonstrates its concept.
Olympic bid should be capable of winning
Munich had already presented its plans on 20 May and received the DOSB delegation for the handover of the documents on the evening of 31 May in the Olympic Park. Bavaria's Minister President Markus Söder said: "Bavaria is backing Munich's bid, we think it is excellent. We will not embarrass Germany - on the contrary. We will present a good image and receive a lot of honour." What the picture should look like: Click here for the Munich-based company's concept.
The DOSB intends to review the concepts by the end of September. The catalogue of criteria for the evaluation can be viewed here. All concepts that meet the requirements are to be presented at the DOSB General Assembly on 6 December 2025 in Frankfurt am Main. In a second step, the applicants will be given the opportunity to hold referenda by the end of June 2026 in order to assess the social viability of their applications and obtain a vote.
In stage three, the final evaluation will be carried out using an evaluation matrix that has yet to be developed. In autumn 2026, an extraordinary DOSB General Assembly will vote on the German candidate. Thomas Weikert also pointed out the long road ahead in the national and international bidding process and said: "We are convinced that this selection process will not only find the best concept for Germany, but also one that will enable us to win the international competition."
Two possible sailing locations for the Olympics
According to Weikert, the competition that has now been sparked between the bidders to organise the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Games is "absolutely legitimate in the interests of sport". We are "very happy to have four high-quality concepts to choose from". This shows "the continued appeal of the Olympic and Paralympic Games". The competition between the four main contenders has once again created a rivalry between the sailing locations of Kiel and Rostock-Warnemünde.
Viewed through the lens of Olympic sailing, the four bid concepts differ at this early stage of the bidding process in one respect in particular: the Hamburg bidders are fully in favour of Kiel-Schilksee as a sailing venue, while the other three bidders remain open between Kiel and Rostock-Warnemünde. In their overview of possible sailing sports venues, the Munich bidders cite both Kiel and Rostock.
In their "Berlin+" concept under the heading "Berlin+ Mecklenburg-Vorpommern", the Berliners state that the federal state "with its water-rich landscape is traditionally an excellent location for sailing". However, under the headline "Berlin+ Schleswig-Holstein", the Berliners also state: "With the location of Kiel and a lot of international experience, Schleswig-Holstein is a great option for sailing competitions". In the Rhine-Ruhr concept, the list of venues in the overview contains this reference: "Kiel/Warnemünde - Sailing".
Schwesig and Günther promote their districts
It is clear that the two German sailing areas are in competition with each other in the bidding process. However, the race will remain open for a long time until the DOSB examinations, the public consultations and the next steps in the bidding process have been completed. The Minister Presidents of the federal states of the potential locations for an Olympic sailing regatta of the future are also campaigning for their states as Olympic sailing hosts.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Manuela Schwesig said: "We want the Olympics - and we want to bring the sailing competitions to Rostock-Waremünde." Minister President Daniel Günther promoted sailing, handball and rugby in Schleswig-Holstein alongside Hamburg's Mayor Dr Peter Taschentscher. Daniel Günther is convinced: "Maritime games, Hamburg and our land between the seas: they go together."
