Alliance NOlympia welcomes the withdrawal of Berlin's Olympic bid

The NOlympia alliance has happily acknowledged the withdrawal of Berlin's bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. “Berlin has failed on a grand scale for the third time. Every time it becomes clear in a continuity that Berlin cannot get a majority," said sports scientist Johannes Verch from the alliance, "if the rulers come up with a concept like this again in four or eight years, we'll be there again."

Two of the Olympic opponents' concerns obsolete

The opponents of the Olympics actually wanted to announce the conclusion of the first phase of the referendum against hosting the games. The opponents exceeded the required 20,000 signatures by around a quarter. The opponents of the Olympics viewed a possible second phase, in which 175,000 signatures would have been necessary, as very challenging. The signatures will now be shredded by a company next week and the result will be certified so that data protection is met.

In addition, a letter should be sent to the members of the DOSB who will vote on the national applicant in Baden-Baden on Saturday. The letter, which was sent this week, described Berlin's situation from the perspective of its opponents, which would make it impossible to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Here too, Berlin's withdrawal made the Olympic opponents' concerns obsolete.

A new Senate is required

Left-wing politician Gabriele Hiller now sees the alliance's work as a starting signal for raising concerns with the new government. «We want to support the tasks in popular and school sports. These areas must be incorporated into future government work. And competitive sports must also continue to be supported - even without the Olympics.”

Uwe Hiksch from the Friends of Nature hopes that part of the money earmarked for the Olympics will now go towards the renovation and modernization of the sports facilities, “so that the children can learn to swim. We will also demand that the new Senate finally do their homework.”

For Hiksch, too, the withdrawal of the Olympic bid does not mean a loss of investment in competitive sports, but he notes: “Top-class sports should take place, but without popular sports there will never be any sporting development.”