Jürgen Klopp is intensively promoting Germany's Olympic bid

Shortly before the decision was made on the German candidate, national coach Jürgen Klopp intensively campaigned for the Olympic Games to be held. “I wish we could have something like that again,” the 59-year-old told the Sportschau: “I would be very happy because it is a goal that you work towards and then has value that you can continue to use.”

The Olympics create “a feeling of community that you can hardly achieve in any other way,” explained Klopp. He himself watched the 1972 Summer Games in Munich as a five-year-old. "It was formative for my entire life," said the national coach: "I would like everyone to be able to experience such an atmosphere in their own country. It's time we bring the games back to Germany."

Germany wants to host the Summer Olympics and Paralympics in 2036, 2040 or 2044. The decision on the applicant will be made on Saturday between Munich and Cologne/Rhine-Ruhr in Baden-Baden. Berlin had withdrawn, in Hamburg the citizens had voted against an application.

"We almost have to do it," explained Klopp: "You just have to say: Over the years, our sports facilities, whether they are stadiums, gymnasiums, swimming pools or anything else, become dilapidated. Investments are being made in the future, whenever that may be." It's not about money, "it's about the emotional return."

According to Klopp, the atmosphere around the games will "help us to tackle the other problems together. We need a big, common goal as a country, as a community. The Olympic Games would be that. Is it the plaster that you stick over it and everything is fine? No, but it definitely contributes to healing."