Munich’s voters have given the green light to bid for hosting the Summer Olympics in 2036, 2040, or 2044, with a decisive 66.4% voting in favor of the proposal. This landmark referendum, which saw a record 42% voter turnout, marks a significant step forward in Germany’s efforts to bring the Olympics back to the country for the first time in over a century. The vote is binding, and if the bid is successful, Munich would host the Games, utilizing existing sports facilities, including the iconic Olympic Park, and prioritizing sustainability.
The city, which last hosted the Summer Games in 1972, is one of four German regions developing a bid, alongside Berlin, Hamburg, and the Ruhr region. The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) will select the national candidate in late 2026, and the winning city will submit its bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Munich’s mayor, Dieter Reiter, hailed the result as a “clear yes,” while Bavarian Premier Markus Söder pledged to promote the city’s bid aggressively. The referendum’s outcome is seen as a crucial step towards revitalizing Germany’s sporting landscape and showcasing the country’s capabilities on the global stage.
