Munich, Bavaria, Germany – Following a successful summer for athletics in Germany, including the European Championships in Birmingham and the Istaf in Berlin, German track and field stars are eagerly anticipating the decision on whether Munich will host the 2029 or 2031 World Athletics Championships at the city’s iconic Olympic Park.
German Athletes Express Enthusiasm for Home World Championships
Decathlon star Leo Neugebauer, a world and European champion, voiced his excitement, stating, “Munich 2029 would, of course, be a dream. That would be really cool. I believe athletics generally has a high standing in Germany, and now I feel it’s growing more and more.”
Neugebauer’s decathlon rival, Niklas Kaul, echoed these sentiments, hoping for a home World Championships in three years. “I would, of course, very, very much wish for Munich 2029, because that would still be at an age where I say I can still do that,” explained Kaul, who would be 31 years old at the time. Kaul also holds special memories of the Munich Olympic Stadium, where he became European champion four years ago. “To return to the Olympic Stadium where I became European champion, I would find that outstanding.”
Munich’s Competition and a Look Back at Previous Success
Munich faces competition from cities such as London and Nairobi. If the Kenyan capital is awarded the championships, it would mark the first time the World Athletics Championships for adults are held in Africa. The decision by World Athletics is anticipated in September, following the inaugural Ultimate Championships in Budapest.
The last major athletics event in Munich was the European Championships four years ago, which saw various sports captivating hundreds of thousands of spectators at the venues.
Gina Lückenkemper’s Advocacy and Hopes for a Sprint World Record
Two-time Munich European champion Gina Lückenkemper, a prominent German sprinter, has actively campaigned for a home World Championships. “I did a lot for this bid and actually gave a ten-minute presentation to the World Athletics commission because I am definitely in favor of bringing the World Championships back to Germany. And I mean, 2029 would be particularly cool,” Lückenkemper stated.
The last World Athletics Championships in Germany took place in Berlin in 2009, an event famously remembered for Usain Bolt’s historic sprint performances, where he set still-standing world records in the 100 and 200 meters. Lückenkemper expressed a desire to witness similar history in Munich: “I also said to the commission: How cool would it be if we saw a men’s sprint world record in Germany 20 years later?”
Lückenkemper, who would be 32 in 2029, similar to Kaul, is contemplating participation. “In 2029, I think I would still push myself and give everything to be on the track again,” she said.
The potential for Munich to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships represents a significant opportunity for German athletes to compete on home soil and for the country to once again host a major international athletics event, building on the success of past competitions.
