Berlin Withdraws Olympic Bid, Munich and Cologne/Rhine-Ruhr Remain in Race
Munich, Bavaria, Germany – September 23, 2026 – Berlin has reportedly withdrawn its bid to host the Olympic Games in 2036, 2040, or 2044. This development narrows the German candidate selection to a two-city race between Munich and the Cologne/Rhine-Ruhr region. The official announcement is anticipated on Thursday morning, September 24, 2026.
The capital’s exit transforms the competition for the German Olympic host into a direct duel. Immediately prior to the decision scheduled for this Saturday, Berlin is set to withdraw its application following a series of setbacks, according to consistent media reports.
Official Announcement Expected Thursday
Reports from RBB (external link) indicate that Berlin’s Olympic Commissioner Kaweh Niroomand, the outgoing Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU), and Sports Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) had previously discussed the withdrawal. The decision is expected to be officially announced at a press conference by the Senate on Thursday morning. As of now, there has been no official statement from the city leadership.
Consequence of the Evaluation Commission’s Findings?
The decision to withdraw the Olympic bid likely stems from multiple factors. The final trigger may have been the results of the DOSB (German Olympic Sports Confederation) evaluation commission, published on Tuesday. Although the results were intended only as a recommendation and decision-making aid, Berlin performed significantly worse than its competitors, Munich and Cologne/Rhine-Ruhr.
Particularly in the scored categories of “sporting and operational suitability” and “international competitiveness and national acceptance,” Munich and Cologne/Rhine-Ruhr were clearly ahead of the federal capital. Furthermore, Berlin’s designated new city leadership had already expressed opposition to the city’s bid. Both the Left Party, which emerged as the strongest force in the Berlin House of Representatives elections last Sunday, and the Greens are against hosting the Games in Berlin.
Political and Societal Support Crucial for IOC Decision
For a long time, Berlin had portrayed itself as the only true German bidder and the candidate with the greatest appeal. The prevailing principle was that without Berlin, the DOSB shouldn’t even bother trying with IOC members. However, the reality is that the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which makes the allocation decision, also considers the political and societal support in a potential host country. In both these aspects, Berlin had fallen far behind its national competitors even before the evaluation report.
For Munich, Berlin’s withdrawal means that it now only has one competitor to overcome. The remaining candidates still have time to campaign for themselves until the national decision on Saturday in Baden-Baden.
Upcoming Decision and Related Information
- German Olympic Candidate Selection Day: Saturday, September 26, from 1:15 PM in the livestream on ARD Mediathek and BR24Sport.
- September 22, 2026, 7:29 PM: “Olympic dream gets closer”: Munich is the DOSB examiners’ favorite. On Saturday, the DOSB decides which venue it will apply with for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The examiners have now published their evaluation report – and see Munich as a narrow favorite.
- September 22, 2026, 1:52 PM: Who votes? What are the criteria? Answers to the Olympic showdown. On Saturday, the decision on the German bid for the 2036, 2040, or 2044 Olympic Games will be made in the Kurhaus Baden-Baden. Here are all the questions and answers about the three-way battle between Munich, Berlin, and Cologne/Rhine-Ruhr.
