Berlin OKs bid to host Olympics on or after anniversary of 1936 Games under the Nazis

Berlin’s state parliament voted Thursday to approve the city’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games on or after the 100th anniversary of the 1936 Games, which were held under Nazi rule. The proposal, led by Mayor Kai Wegner of the CDU party, received support from rival SPD members and the far-right AfD, while opposition came from the Left party and Greens, who warned of financial risks and called the plans unrealistic. The bid relies on existing sports facilities and landmarks like the Tempelhof park, with an estimated cost of 4.82 billion euros ($5.6 billion) and projected revenue of 5.24 billion euros, yielding a net profit of 420 million euros. A quarter of the profit would go to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), according to the state government’s concept approved earlier this month. Critics, including Tobias Schulze of the Left Party, argued that past Olympics exceeded budget estimates by over twice the initial projections and highlighted the need for venue renovations. Unlike other German bids, Berlin’s organizers opted not to hold a referendum, though a public campaign called ‘NOlympia Berlin’ is pushing for one to block the plans. Germany aims to submit one of four bids—Berlin, Munich, North Rhine-Westphalia, or Hamburg—to the IOC by September 26, with Hamburg’s proposal still pending a May 31 referendum. DOSB president Thomas Weikert praised Berlin’s decision, calling it a step that has reignited enthusiasm for sports in the capital. The Games could take place in 2036, 2040, or 2044, with Wegner framing the bid as a ‘promise for future generations’ and a chance for Berlin to showcase itself globally.