In front of the cameras are Munich's Third Mayor Verena Dietl (SPD) and Sandro Kirchner (CSU), State Secretary in the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior. Dietl gives the thumbs up, Second Mayor Mona Fuchs (Greens) waves an Olympic dachshund from 1972. The cameras are aimed at the stage, the cheering swells once again. Waiters bring champagne. For a moment, the Old Town Hall has something of an Oktoberfest and a fair at the same time.
On the screen, Mayor Dominik Krause (Greens) in Baden-Baden thanks everyone who took part. "Now it's starting. We're just getting started at the international level." The sentence briefly brings the room back to earth: Munich is Germany's candidate. The games themselves are far from being taken.
After the decision, Dietl said she was “completely overwhelmed.” The city gave everything and convinced the Munich population as well as the member associations. “It’s a fantastic moment.” At the same time, she lists what needs to be worked on further: mobility, the Olympic Village, the concept as a whole. The bid won its first major race; the next one begins at the international level.
The tension that had spread in the hall shortly before now seems far away. On this day, the walls there are illuminated in the colors of the Olympic rings. As images of the 1972 games appear on the big screens, the babble of voices becomes quieter. It is still unclear who will win. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) says: “The winner has been decided, but we don’t know him yet.” There is laughter and groaning in the hall. There was applause when Steinmeier spoke about how Germany is and wants to remain a cosmopolitan country.
On the stage in Baden-Baden are the Prime Ministers of Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, Markus Söder (CSU) and Hendrik Wüst (CDU). Söder gets applause for saying that the Free State will manage the games. If it ends up failing because of money, it would be embarrassing, he says. When he says, “We want to write sports history,” the room gets loud.
Even before the decision is made, the moderator in the Old Town Hall asks the guests to turn to the BR cameras and set the mood. The answer: whistles, hoots, rhythmic clapping. “Munich, Munich.” Paper flags and pretzels are also being waved there. The cheering goes on until it almost hurts your ears. Happy anticipation, a few more photos, another round of cheers.
How far the crowd was ahead of their hopes even before the announcement is shown again and again on this sunny Saturday at the Oktoberfest. Many came in lederhosen and jackets or dirndls. The mood is great, even though the race is considered open. Hardly anyone in the room seems to doubt that Munich could be ahead.
Shortly after 1 p.m., Dietl was still talking about a head-to-head race. She welcomes the many city councilors in the hall, as well as representatives of the surrounding communities. Marion Schöne, the managing director of Olympiapark München GmbH, is there and Manfred Gößl, the general manager of the IHK for Munich and Upper Bavaria. “We are only strong together,” says Dietl. “We already have the infrastructure here on site.” There is strong applause for this.
Kirchner welcomes members of the state parliament. “Today is a big day for us, we’re all excited.” A lot of heart and soul went into the application, he says. City and country worked hand in hand. “Munich can do the Olympics,” he says with certainty.
Then the live broadcast from Baden-Baden begins. First there are shouts of “Whoo” and applause. As the moderator speaks, it suddenly becomes quiet. The eyes are focused on the screen; Dietl and Kirchner watch from the edge of the stage. The audience, just loud and confident, is now waiting for the decision.
Perhaps it is precisely this mixture of confidence and nervousness that suits a city that has long grappled with the question of whether it even wants the Olympics. In the referendum on October 26, 2025, 66.4 percent voted for Munich to apply for the Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games. The voter turnout was 42 percent. There was also a broad majority in the city council for the council's request; The Left and the ÖDP voted against it.
The then mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD), Söder and Dietl campaigned for the Olympics. They referred to the sports facilities from 1972 and promised impulses for local transport, housing construction and popular sports. The most prominent critics included Ludwig Hartmann (Greens), the vice president of the Bavarian state parliament, city councilor Tobias Ruff (ÖDP) and Stefan Jagel (Left). They warned of incalculable costs, traffic problems and interference with natural areas.
The dispute over the Olympic Village is not over. It will continue to be built east of Daglfing and Englschalking. Critics see valuable agricultural land and a fresh air corridor at risk. Members of FC Teutonia were also concerned about their club grounds near the Olympic Park. The yes to the application was not a blank check for every single construction and transport project.
Today, however, no such objections can be heard in the Old Town Hall. The supporters have gathered here, this is where the celebrations take place. And when the decision is made, it sounds as if the hall wanted to show the international stage how loud Munich can be.
