Bavarian Cabinet Guarantees Funding for Munich’s World Athletics Championships Bid
Munich, July 1 – Just weeks before the allocation of the 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships, Munich, as a candidate city, has received a significant financial assurance from the Bavarian state government. The cabinet, led by Minister President Markus Söder (CSU), decided to contribute one-third of the event’s operational costs, should Munich be awarded the championships. The decision for the hosting cities will be made in September.
Financial Commitment and Estimated Costs
The remaining two-thirds of the costs are expected to be covered by the city of Munich and the federal government. For a 2029 World Championships, current estimates project total expenditures of approximately 120 million euros, while a 2031 event is estimated at around 123 million euros. These figures represent an increase from the 107 million and 110 million euros, respectively, that were discussed in March when the city council approved the bid.
State Minister Florian Herrmann (CSU) emphasized the prestige of the event, stating that a World Athletics Championships, featuring around 50 competitions, is “among the most prestigious and significant major sporting events worldwide.” He added that only the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cups attract higher public interest. “It is always the stated goal of the Bavarian state government to bring such major sporting events to Bavaria and Munich.” The financial commitment still requires final approval from the state parliament, but due to the majority situation, this vote is largely considered a formality.
Preferred Year and Venue
The modernized Olympic Stadium is slated to be the venue for the championships. Over nine event days, approximately 2,200 athletes from around 195 nations are expected to participate. Munich submitted bids for both 2029 and 2031 but prefers to host in 2031. This preference is due to other major events scheduled in Munich in 2029, including the German Gymnastics Festival in May and the UEFA Women’s European Championship in July and August.
Impact on Olympic Bid
Herrmann also highlighted the broader implications of hosting the championships. “This also supports efforts for an Olympic bid in Munich, both nationally and internationally,” he said. Munich and Bavaria are entering this race strengthened by the successful European Athletics Championships in 2022 and a recent public survey regarding a potential Olympic bid. Munich aims to prevail against Berlin and the Rhine-Ruhr region in the autumn to be nominated as the German candidate for the 2036, 2040, or 2044 Summer Olympics.
The city’s strong track record in hosting major sporting events and its commitment to further developing its sports infrastructure are seen as key advantages in both the World Athletics Championships bid and the potential Olympic campaign.
