The air in Munich is thick with a sense of anticipation, a feeling familiar to those who remember the city’s last Olympic Games. This time, however, the decision isn’t just about sporting glory; it’s about a city’s identity, its future, and the echoes of a past that shaped its very soul. Munich has spoken, and the message is clear: 66.4% of its citizens want the Olympic Games to return in either 2036, 2040, or 2044. This resounding ‘yes’ has sparked conversations, memories, and a touch of apprehension, especially among those who witnessed the transformative power of the 1972 Games. One such voice belongs to Christine Strobl, Munich’s former Mayor, who, at 11 years old, experienced the magic and the tragedy of that era and later made the Olympic Village her home.
Strobl, now residing in the Pressestadt, vividly recalls the atmosphere of her childhood during the 1972 Games. “Everyone was so expectant, involved, or cheering along. It was really superb,” she reminisces. Her personal highlight was witnessing Mark Spitz win gold in the swimming stadium, a memory etched in her mind. The Games ignited a passion for sports beyond the football matches she watched with her father, opening her eyes to the diverse world of athletics. But the joyous spectacle was tragically marred by the 1972 attack on the Israeli Olympic team, an event that profoundly impacted her. “It influenced me because I wanted to understand why people do such things. I believe that was unconsciously the starting point for my political engagement,” she reflects.
Years later, in 1997, Strobl moved into a rented apartment in the Olympic Village on Nadistraße. She had always been drawn to the area, despite the surprising fact that many apartments remained empty for two to three years immediately after the 1972 Games. “You can’t even imagine that today,” she notes, hinting at the rumors that lights were sometimes turned on at night to make the village appear less desolate. The charm of the Olympic Village, for Strobl, lies in its unique character as “a village in the middle of the city,” offering everything one needs: shops, schools, and kindergartens. Its underground traffic system made it ideal for children, allowing them to walk to school safely. “I had an apartment from whose balcony I could see almost the entire school route,” she recalls fondly.
The prospect of a new Olympic Village being built in Munich, should the city secure the bid, brings both hope and concern for Strobl. While new housing is always welcome in Munich, she questions the feasibility of the rapid construction timelines seen in the past. “In 1966, Munich received the bid in April, and construction began in 1968, 1969. By 1972, everything was finished. You can’t imagine that today,” she states, attributing the difference to a more optimistic “spirit of optimism” that prevailed 20 years after World War II. Today, she perceives a contrasting sentiment.
Strobl admits to being surprised by the high level of public support for a new bid, especially after her experience as Sports Mayor during the unsuccessful bid for the Winter Olympics. She had anticipated a majority, but a much narrower one, acknowledging the city’s increased promotional efforts this time. While she would personally love to experience the Games in Munich again – even at 83 in 2044 – she is divided by the potential costs. “I don’t think you can compare the costs with earlier times at all,” she explains. The 1972 Games were also more expensive than initially planned, and she anticipates the current bid to be very costly. Furthermore, she fears that the Games would make an already attractive city even more desirable, potentially increasing living expenses for residents, as seen in cities like Paris, London, Lisbon, and Dublin.
Although Munich boasts existing sports facilities from 1972, Strobl points out that these would be 20 years older by 2044. Even with recent renovations, such as the Olympiahalle in 2020, the technology would be 25 years old by then, making cost estimations difficult. She cites the long-running Stuttgart 21 project as an example of modern construction delays. Despite her reservations, if Munich were to host the Games again and she could obtain tickets, Strobl would undoubtedly attend. Her reflections highlight the complex interplay of nostalgia, civic pride, economic realities, and the enduring human desire for connection and shared experience that the Olympic Games represent.
The 1972 Munich Olympic Games were initially envisioned as the ‘Cheerful Games’, a symbol of a modern, democratic Germany. However, they are also remembered for the tragic terrorist attack on the Israeli Olympic team, which led to the deaths of eleven Israelis and a German police officer. This event profoundly impacted the games, leading to a temporary halt before the IOC President Avery Brundage declared, “The Games must go on.”
The legacy of the 1972 Games is evident in the city’s infrastructure, including the U-Bahn and S-Bahn systems, the pedestrian zone, and the Olympic Park with its iconic tent-like roof architecture, which has become a landmark. The Olympic Village itself was repurposed for housing, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability even then. [muenchen.de](https://www.muenchen.de/aktuell/olympia-buergerentscheid-klare-mehrheit-fuer-olympiabewerbung) [augsburger-allgemeine.de](https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/bayern/olympia-in-muenchen-wie-wuerde-das-die-stadt-veraendern-112567812) [spiegel.de](https://www.spiegel.de/sport/olympia/olympische-sommerspiele-alles-wichtige-zur-olympia-wahl-von-muenchen-a-90158555-3f3e-4d20-8201-28278cbc7a36)
The recent citizen’s referendum saw a record turnout of 42.0%, surpassing the previous high of 37.5% for the 2001 decision on the new football arena in Fröttmaning. The 2013 referendum on the 2022 Winter Olympics bid only saw a 28.9% turnout, which was rejected. [muenchen.de](https://www.muenchen.de/aktuell/olympia-buergerentscheid-klare-mehrheit-fuer-olympiabewerbung) [spiegel.de](https://www.spiegel.de/sport/olympia/olympische-sommerspiele-alles-wichtige-zur-olympia-wahl-von-muenchen-a-90158555-3f3e-4d20-8201-28278cbc7a36)
Proponents of the bid emphasize sustainability, noting that 90% of the sports venues would either already exist or be temporary. The 1972 Olympic Park, including the SAP Garden, and other facilities in the surrounding area like the Regatta course and the Augsburg canoe slalom course, could be utilized. The Allianz Arena, home to FC Bayern, is also a potential venue. [br.de](https://www.br.de/nachrichten/sport/olympija-oder-nolympia-muenchen-stimmt-ueber-olympia-ab,V0XJ7AZ)
However, concerns remain regarding public transport, as Munich’s network is already strained. While an Olympic bid could accelerate infrastructure development, critics argue that such improvements are necessary regardless of the Games. Economically, while a city-commissioned study projects multi-billion euro benefits, particularly from accelerated infrastructure, other economic institutes are more cautious, suggesting limited and short-lived effects from major sporting events. [br.de](https://www.br.de/nachrichten/sport/olympija-oder-nolympia-muenchen-stimmt-ueber-olympia-ab,V0XJ7AZ)
Source: [tz.de](https://www.tz.de/muenchen/stadt/gewaehrt-private-einblicke-mein-leben-im-olympischen-dorf-muenchner-ex-buergermeisterin-94103556.html)
