Poll: Majority of Germans in favor of hosting Olympics in the country

A recent study conducted by the Infratest Dimap institute for the German Olympic organization DOSB indicates that a majority of Germans would back a bid to host the Olympic Games in 2036, 2040, or 2044. The survey shows that 74% of respondents currently favor such a bid.

Moreover, 70% of those surveyed believe that hosting the Olympics and Paralympics could have a positive effect on the national mood. The findings were shared with dpa ahead of the DOSB's scheduled announcement at its general meeting on Saturday.

Several German cities, including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and the Rhine-Ruhr area, are in contention to host the Games. The DOSB aims to choose the candidate city or region during the third quarter of 2026 and determine which edition of the Summer Olympics Germany will pursue.

Recent local developments include Munich residents voting in favor of the Olympic bid. North Rhine-Westphalia will hold a referendum on April 19, and Hamburg on May 31, to decide whether to advance their bids. Berlin, however, cannot hold a vote until at least 2027, after the DOSB selects the German candidate. A prior poll indicated that 67% of Berlin residents oppose hosting the Games.

Historically, Germany has hosted the Summer Olympics twice: Berlin in 1936 and Munich in 1972. Since then, several attempts to secure the Games have either failed or been halted through referendums.

Author: Natalie Monroe