Work Cut Out for German Olympic Bid

(ATR) Germany’s Olympic committee will have to "work hard" to win approval for a 2024 Summer Olympic bid.

The DOSB has announced plans to bid for the Summer Olympics in 2024 and, if necessary, 2028. The Games would be hosted in either Berlin or Hamburg. Both cities submitted proposals to the DOSB last month.

Spokesperson Christian Klaue tells Around the Rings that the DOSB will ask the general assembly to support the bid on December 6 and that a public referendum will be part of the process.

"Yes, we are confident to have a good chance to win the referendum," said Klaue. "Nevertheless, you do not know.

"We have to work hard for it."

A spokesperson for the German government says a bid is "worth supporting," according to Europe Online, but declined to voice firm support at this time.

The referendum will be held after the city is selected in March. One recent opinion showed just 48% of Berliners support bidding, while 53% of Hamburg is in favor. Either city would have to change its constitution to make a bid possible.

"We’ll work it out in close partnership with the city when time has come," said the spokesperson.

Earlier this year, a public referendum nullified a possible Munich bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Germany has twice hosted the Summer Olympics: Berlin in 1936 and Munich in 1972.

The host city for the 2024 Summer Olympics will be chosen in 2017. Bids could come from Rome, Paris, Doha, and a U.S. city, among others.

Written by Nick Devlin

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