DOSB general meeting: German Olympic bid: A “Yes!” and many questions

Laura Ludwig cried during her emotional plea for the Olympic Games in Germany. “I want it so much for the generation that is coming now and the generation after,” said the former exceptional athlete with a cracking voice during the general meeting of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB). A few minutes later, the delegates followed the beach volleyball Olympic champion’s speech with a clear vote.

The assembly decided without a dissenting vote that the DOSB should enter into the so-called Continuous Dialogue with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for an application for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. A formal intermediate step on the very long and rocky road to becoming the host of the world event.

Essentially, non-binding discussions are now being held with the IOC. This is a “clear sign,” said DOSB President Thomas Weikert. “A sign that will also attract international attention.” However, Germany is currently not a favorite of the IOC, especially after criticism from Ringe boss Thomas Bach.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, on the other hand, is a big fan of Germany’s possible bid for the Olympics. During her speech in response to criticism from the German IOC President, the SPD politician reiterated that the autonomy of sport was “a given for Germany and has always been practice.”

Bach said in the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” that the federal government’s stance before the Summer Games in Paris had violated the political neutrality of sport. Russian or Belarusian athletes were denied entry to sporting events in Germany. Faeser vehemently contradicted: There have been no entry bans for athletes and there will continue to be no such bans.

The traffic light coalition with Faeser, which has now failed, signaled its support for the application plans in the summer after a long period of hesitation. How the new federal government, which will be elected in February, will position itself seems to be one of the great unknowns.

The DOSB sent ten demands to the future cabinet via a corresponding emergency decision. What is explicitly called for is “binding support for a German bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games” as well as the creation of a ministry position for sport in the Federal Chancellery.

The big question of “Where?” and when?”

“The Olympic Games are not just competition, but a symbol of peace, cohesion and the tireless human spirit,” said Ludwig. “Such a big event can bring us together, such a big project can move mountains.”

Where and when the games should take place in Germany remained unclear. “In which city, in which region will Germany now apply, for the 2040 or 2036 Games? We will not be able to answer this question today, and there are reasons for that,” said Weikert. One of the reasons is that the DOSB has only known since the end of June “that the federal government is supporting the application financially”.

Weikert announced that four regional concepts would be refined at the beginning of the new year. He would like to thank “Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich as well as the federal states of Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia” for following this path. He is confident that a concept can be presented to the general meeting in the coming years that “not only plays along, but also wins”.