(ATR) The majority of those surveyed in a poll conducted by DPA International were in support of a Hamburg bid to host the 2024 Olympics, yet many do not think the city can win.
The poll showed 58 percent of those surveyed to be in support of the German port city’s bid to host the Games while 49 percent did not think the city had a good chance to win against the other cities in the competition. Only one third of people surveyed believed Hamburg had a good shot at winning the hosting rights.
One famous supporter of the German bid to host the Games is the country’s national football coach Joachim Loew. Loew believes Germany could use the experience hosting the World Cup in 2006 to host a successful 2024 Olympics.
"It would be great, and I support completely Hamburg hosting these Olympics. Hamburg is a sports town, a cosmopolitan city able to host an outstanding Olympics," said Loew.
Those who are completely against a Hamburg bid – 20 percent in the survey – often cited concerns over potential cost overruns for their lack of support.
The next opportunity for Hamburg residents to demonstrate their support for the bid is at the November 29 referendum. Hamburg Mayor Olaf Scholz is confident the bid will have the simple majority needed for approval.
The city of Kiel will also hold a referendum on November 29 to determine support for the bid. Kiel is slated to host the sailing competition in the current bid plan.
If these referendums are successful, the Hamburg Court of Auditors would like the Hamburg Parliament to re-vote on the Olympic bid.
"Senate and Parliament should think again before the conclusion of a host city contract with the IOC. If it then emerges that hosting the Games with a sustainable financial sector cannot be reconciled, the citizenry should not be held to the outcome of the referendum," suggests the Court of Auditors president Stefan Schulz.
The report released by the Court of Auditors at the end of Augustdetailed potential financial risks for the city if it goes through with the Olympic bid. Although the report sparked the first wave of opposition to form against the bid, the court says they are not trying to stop the city from bidding for the Games.
"The Court is neither for nor against the Olympics. We can currently only point out the risks and stand for maximum transparency in the costing and financing," the court said.
The Hamburg 2024 bid team says they will release more detailed financial estimates in September to increase transparency and give the public time to debate the figures before voting in the referendum.
Although the city is voting to approve an Olympic bid on November 29, Hamburg already submitted their letter of intent to the IOC on September 9. The city will receive all of the application documents from the IOC on September 16 and can choose to drop out of the race following the November referendum.
With their letter of intent, Hamburg enters the 2024 bidding race with Los Angeles, Paris, Rome and Budapest.
Written by Kevin Nutley and Heinz Peter Kreuzer
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