Hamburg Votes on Olympic Bid for 2036, 2040 or 2044 Summer Games

Political Support and Opposition

Mayor Tschentscher has said he would be satisfied with a result of 50 percent plus one vote. "If we get a majority there, then the world is open to us," he stated. He emphasized that the Hamburg concept is designed to be "sustainable, inclusive, climate-friendly" and to "integrate the Games into the city" rather than turning Hamburg upside down.

The bid envisions 20 of the 33 planned competition venues lying directly within the city area, with 17 of them within a radius of only seven kilometers around Heiligengeistfeld. Organizers say 76 percent of existing sports facilities would be used, and the remaining 24 percent would be installed temporarily.

A central element is a new multi-functional arena next to the Volksparkstadion for athletics competitions. Hamburger SV could use the arena after the Games and therefore supports the plans. FC St. Pauli has no unified stance, with a club-internal discussion revealing a broad spectrum of arguments from infrastructural and financial questions to negative social impacts such as gentrification.

The Bid Concept

The Olympic Village is planned for Altona and would later be used as the already-planned "Science City" and housing. The bid also includes the modernization of nearly 100 sports facilities, partly through federal funds.

Opponents, including the NOlympia initiative, argue that the estimated investment costs of about 1.3 billion euros are set far too low. Eckart Maudrich of NOlympia stated: "Die Investitionskosten von etwa 1,3 Milliarden Euro sind viel zu gering veranschlagt." Critics also point to uncalculable financial risks and burdens on residents, the city and the environment from traffic, construction and rising rents.

The NOlympia website describes the International Olympic Committee as "a Swiss association whose leaders appoint themselves, define themselves as volunteers and collect up to 1.6 million euros a year for it." Security costs for the Paris Olympics two years ago amounted to 1.7 billion euros, a figure cited by those skeptical of the bid.

Criticism and Financial Concerns

Hamburg's 2015 Olympic referendum failed, but the Active City program developed at that time gave a boost to grassroots sports. Sports teacher Susanne Eibig noted: "Das zeigt, dass die Spiele positive Auswirkungen haben und selbst die Bewerbung dafür. Hamburg ist mit dem Referendum 2015 gescheitert, hat durch das damals entwickelte Active-City-Programm aber dem Breitensport einen echten Schub geben können."

Tennis professional Alexander Zverev is quoted on a banner expressing enthusiasm for the Olympic spirit in his hometown: "Als Hamburger bin ich begeistert von der Idee, diesen Olympischen Geist in meiner Heimatstadt zu sehen."

Hamburg is one of several German cities seeking the DOSB nomination. In the Rhine-Ruhr region, 66.0 percent voted in favor of an Olympic bid in April, and in Munich, 66.4 percent voted in favor in October of the previous year. In Kiel, Hamburg's partner city for sailing events, 63.5 percent voted in favor on April 19.

National Competition

A DOSB evaluation commission will review the final concepts of the German applicants, with a decision on which concept enters the international bidding process expected by September. The DOSB does not anticipate an IOC award of the 2036 Summer Games before 2027.