Munich: Citizens vote for Olympic bid in 2036, 2040 or 2044

Around two thirds of the participants in the referendum in Munich spoke out in favor of the Bavarian capital’s Olympic bid. According to the preliminary final result, 305,201 eligible voters, or 66.4 percent, voted yes, as can be seen from the information from the district administration department. 154,207 participants voted against an Olympic bid.

More than 460,000 Munich residents cast their votes, ensuring record participation. Around 1.097 million people were allowed to vote. Many participants took advantage of the opportunity to vote by post. For the first time, the postal voting documents were sent unsolicited.

On the ballot paper was a question with two possible answers: “Are you in favor of the state capital Munich applying for the Summer Olympics and Paralympics, which will take place in either 2036, 2040 or 2044?” Possible answers were “yes” or “no”.

In the referendum, what counts in the end is whether supporters or opponents were able to achieve a majority – but only if at least ten percent of all Munich residents eligible to vote voted with the respective answer. This quorum was clearly exceeded.

Munich – like Berlin, Hamburg and the Rhine-Ruhr region – wants to apply for the Olympic Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044. The city, the Free State and many athletes hope that this will provide a major boost for Bavaria and Germany as a sports location. Critics, on the other hand, believe, among other things, that the major event costs far too much tax money that could be used more sensibly elsewhere.