Berlin Unveils ‘Berlin +’ Olympic Concept, Emphasizing Sustainability and Existing Venues
Berlin, June 1 – Representatives for Berlin’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games are expressing great confidence as they approach the final stage of the national decision-making process. The ‘Berlin +’ concept, presented at the House of German Sports in Olympiapark, focuses on sustainability and leveraging existing infrastructure.
Sustainability at the Core of the Bid
Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) stated, “Our concept relies on sustainability, through the use of existing buildings. These will be Games of short travel distances. Sailing in Rostock in the morning, medal ceremonies at the Brandenburg Gate in the evening. This makes our concept unique and distinguishes it from NRW and Bavaria.”
Berlin is collaborating with Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Brandenburg in its bid for national approval. Munich and the Rhine-Ruhr region, including the metropolis of Cologne, are also vying to host the Games in 2036, 2040, or 2044. Hamburg withdrew its bid on Sunday following a negative public referendum.
The concept must be submitted digitally to the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) by Thursday, June 4. The DOSB’s general assembly on September 26 will make the final decision on the national representative.
Financial Framework and Revenue Projections
Berlin’s concept relies on 97 percent of existing sports facilities. Three budgets have been allocated: 4.8 billion Euros for the pure implementation budget, with expected revenues of 5.2 billion Euros. An additional 1.6 billion Euros are earmarked for the infrastructure budget, while the security budget remains an open item.
Kaweh Niroomand, the Olympic Commissioner, affirmed, “The financial conditions are transparent and solid; we have built buffers into the figures so that we can adjust them accordingly.”
Cross-Regional Collaboration: Venues Across Four States
In addition to Berlin, competitions will be held in the partner states. Brandenburg will host events at the Beetzsee regatta course and the golf course in Bad Saarow. Football matches will take place in Cottbus, and shooting events in Hoppegarten. In Saxony, equestrian events will be held at the Leipzig Trade Fair, and a new canoe park is under development.
Rostock-Warnemünde will serve as the sailing venue, offering excellent viewing conditions from the beach. Stefanie Drese (SPD), Sports Minister of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, enthusiastically declared, “Warnemünde is the Copacabana of Germany.” Rostock’s Mayor, Eva-Maria Kröger (Die Linke), added that athletes would be comfortably accommodated: “A cruise ship in the harbor will serve as part of the Olympic Village.”
Olympics as a Symbol of Reunification
Given the cooperation among the four federal states, representatives view the concept as an opportunity to demonstrate cohesion in times of division. Saxony’s Sports Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) stated, “We are completing reunification with a giga-project; there was a summer fairy tale here. That was just one stage for the fairy tale that is yet to come.” Leipzig’s Mayor Burkhard Jung (SPD) expressed his desire to “go into the race with Berlin to show the other Germany.”
