Olympics: Yes or no? Kiel wants to make it to the Olympics for the third time

The plans Kiel is forging for the possible re-hosting of an Olympic sailing regatta and possibly other sporting competitions under the five rings are XL plans. Schleswig-Holstein's state capital has already hosted two Olympic regattas in 1936 and 1972 - and would like to do so for the third time. Of four German bidders (Hamburg, Munich, Berlin and Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr), three are relying solely or also on Kiel as a sailing partner in the current national competition for just one candidate place for the international competition.

Kiel's aces up its Olympic sleeve: Experience, high sailing safety, existing infrastructure

Whilst the die was cast in Berlin in favour of Rostock-Warnemünde in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as a sailing partnerthe other three bidders to host the Olympic Games between 2036 and 2044 are focussing solely on Kiel (Hamburg, Munich) or on both German sailing areas (Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr). Hamburg was the first applicant to commit to Kiel as a sailing partner right from the start.

This was followed by Munich's vote in favour of Kiel. In the Bavarian metropolis, the citizens have already given their Olympic bid the all-important yes. With 66.4 per cent in favour and 33.6 per cent against, the vote was clearly in favour of the Olympics in their own city. In favour of Munich ("For games with heart & soul") it would be the second Olympic Games after 1972.

In Kiel (19 April, "Jo! to the Olympics in Kiel") and Hamburg (31 May, "An opportunity for all") is yet to vote on the Olympic plans and hopes. Likewise in the 17 municipalities of the Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr campaign ("Our cities, our games"), where the citizens' vote will be collected on 19 April, as in Kiel. The broadest possible approval of the people in the candidate cities is considered an important factor in the final decision on which combination of candidates Germany will send into the international race to host the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Olympic Games.

Olympic bids: Concept submissions until 4 June

In the national procedure to determine the one German candidate for the bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), all candidates not stopped in their tracks by their citizens have until 4 June to submit their bid concepts to the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB).

On 26 September 2026, the DOSB General Assembly will vote for the national candidate for the international Olympic bid. This will also decide which sailing area will be allowed to compete to host an Olympic regatta. Kiel has now finalised its plans once again.

The northern German Sailing City and host of the annual Kiel Week has big plans if more than 50 per cent of Kiel's citizens vote in favour of the Olympic bid on 19 April. Kiel's Lord Mayor Ulf Kämpfer told NDR: "On the one hand, of course, we have huge experience with Kiel Week, which is eleven times the size of the Olympic Games. We have already shown twice at the Olympic Games that we can do this. We have a very safe sailing area here. That means you can sail safely here on 90 per cent of the days in August."

The economy on board: "The games replace 50 years of location marketing"

It will soon be 54 years since Kiel provided the stage for Olympic sailing in 1972. Now Kiel and Schleswig-Holstein, as partners of the major bidders, are fighting for a new edition as well as the staging of further competitions in handball, rugby, open water swimming and coastal rowing. For Olympic sailing, Kiel is relying on the existing Olympic Centre in Kiel-Schilksee, the foundation stone for which was laid on 13 October 1969.

Last weekend, Ulf Kämpfer, Head of Sports Gerwin Stöcken and other Olympic supporters provided information about the plans for the Olympic Centre. As part of a citizens' day, the Olympic proponents also provided information about the project on the meadow that Kieler Woche participants know well as their camping home. An Olympic village could be built here between Schilksee and Strande, which could be used as social housing after the Games. There are also plans for a new indoor boathouse, which will be built independently of the Olympics.

The city is relying heavily on existing infrastructure, but knows that the Olympic Centre needs to be modernised. Ulf Kämpfer estimated that the measures in this area would cost a total of around 65 million euros. Support for Kiel's bid has also come from the business community. Knud Hansen, President of the Kiel Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), says: "There is nothing like the fascination of the Olympics to give a lasting boost to Kiel as a centre for business and tourism. The Games replace 50 years of location marketing."

Federal funding for the German Olympic candidate

In Hamburg, sports senator Andy Grote was quick to find unifying words for the Olympic endeavours in the Hanseatic city. His appeal: "The Olympics is what we all make of it together!" This also applies to all applicants with regard to the dreams, hopes, risks and goals. This time, it has been more clearly communicated and agreed than in the last German bid that the federal government will support the German candidate to be found with financial resources.

At a panel discussion with the "Science in Motion" course of the current graduating class at Hamburg's Blankenese secondary school in February, Hamburg's State Councillor Christoph Holstein responded to the classic criticism that the Olympics would be too expensive and swallow up funds that would otherwise be used to modernise school and municipal sports facilities, for example, with this answer: "That's a mistake. If we were to win the bid, the federal government would have a great interest in ensuring that our location, which would then also be competing internationally, is well received."

In relation to the Hanseatic city, this would mean, according to Holstein: "Money that would otherwise flow elsewhere could flow to Hamburg. The federal government would help us to develop our sports infrastructure. There will be one candidate in Germany. And this candidate will benefit from the fact that the federal government says we want one candidate to be successful. Accordingly, this one candidate will be supported with financial resources." Hamburg's competitors are also fighting for this.

The Olympic home game in sight

In December, Federal Chancellor Friedrich März said in support of a German Olympic bid: "With the bid, we are presenting ourselves as an efficient, innovative nation. We are investing in the future viability of our country. We want to give our Olympic champions of tomorrow a home game." Who will be sent to the IOC selection stage will be decided in the final national vote at the DOSB General Assembly on 26 September.

Christoph Holstein's forecast for the national race of the four candidate regions for just one nomination for the international candidate competition: "We are in a competitive process: Berlin, Rhine-Ruhr/North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg or Munich. In my humble estimation, it will ultimately come down to a competition between Munich and Hamburg." If Holstein is right, Kiel would come into play as a sailing partner in both cases. If the citizens in the Sailing City said yes beforehand.