Column | Munich's Castle in the Air

We've done it: That's at least how one could interpret the reactions following the citizens' decision in Munich regarding the possibility of another Olympic Games in the Bavarian capital after 1972. People are apparently in favor of throwing the traditional hat into the ring. Because, folks, that's all that's happened. It's a bit typical of the people of Munich, and especially of the lord of the castle of the entire Free State, Markus Söder, that they now see themselves at the forefront of the competition for the five rings. It's part of the self-image of the people of Munich, who are sometimes prone to a touch of arrogance ("we are who we are," as the football club FC Bayern Munich always signals), that they practically already see themselves as having reached the finish line.

And so it's a good idea to perhaps put the brakes on for a while, even if that shouldn't happen in sports. First of all, Munich is only one of four German cities bidding for the Olympic Games. Berlin wants to, Hamburg too, and the Rhine-Ruhr region, which recently successfully hosted the Universiade, also sees itself as a perfect Olympic region. So now the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) must first sound out who it actually wants to put forward. The referendums for the other applicants are still pending. In this respect, at least, Munich is on the safe side for now.

Empty promises The proponents have consistently emphasized sustainability, which is extremely fashionable these days. They say they only need a few renovations, and they'd be ready practically tomorrow. That sounds very familiar to me. Milan/Cortina also used this slogan in 2019: We're ready. Immediately. Now, almost 50 million euros have been invested in the biathlon stadium in Antholz; the bobsleigh track in Cortina was already dilapidated in 2019, and the ice rink needed a complete overhaul. The ski jumps in Predazzo suddenly no longer met the necessary requirements, practically just before the Games, and the speed skating rink in Baselga del Pinè was also quickly abandoned.

Will the Olympic flame be lit in Munich? © Shutterstock / Ververidis Vasilis

Renovation costs exploded. But the infrastructure benefits. Funds are available that would otherwise have taken at least ten years to be paid out. Now everything is moving faster. Admittedly, not fast enough for the Olympics in most cases. No matter. Construction is underway. And Munich's mayor, Dieter Reiter, makes no secret of the true reason for the Olympic bid. He stated bluntly that many infrastructure projects could then be launched more quickly with Olympic funds. That's what it's all about, and all references to the great impact on sports, even grassroots sports, are, as always, eyewash.

Many applicants And then there's the question of timing. For the next eight years, the Summer Games in Los Angeles (2028) and Brisbane (2032) have already been booked. The earliest date after that is an unfortunate one: 2036. Exactly one hundred years after the Nazi Games in Berlin. That's unthinkable for many reasons, even if, as in Munich in 1972, one could adopt the motto "Joyful Games" as a stark contrast to Adolf Hitler's propaganda games of that time. So, for now, that leaves the years 2040, 2044, 2048, and 2052. I deliberately named so many years because there are so many applicants. Saudi Arabia is enticing with incredible amounts of money and, of course, completely new stadiums.

The members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are certainly receptive to games that entail no financial risks and even additional revenue. Population-wise, India has already sent signals toward Lausanne. And there have long been world-class athletes from India in many sports. And the journey continues. This time to another continent: Africa. The Olympic Games have never been held there before. And the new IOC President, Kirsty Coventry, comes from Zimbabwe. And just recently, the Cycling World Championships were held in Rwanda. Johannesburg, South Africa, is being discussed. And then, only then, would Europe likely get a chance again. With or without Munich.

About the author: Sigi Heinrich The award-winning sports journalist (including the German Television Award, the Bavarian Sports Award, and a nominee for the prestigious Grimme Prize), sports teacher, author, longtime sports editor of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, and commentator for Eurosport since 1989, devotes his weekly column to the entire spectrum of sports, including topics outside his comfort zone. Sometimes with a smile, sometimes thoughtfully, or deliberately provocatively. There should be something for everyone.

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Column | Munich's Castle in the Air

The Olympic euphoria in Munich following the positive referendum is nothing more than a tiny flaw in the bid process. Our columnist Sigi Heinrich explains the background, which makes it clear that patience is required.

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