Minister of State for Sport Rauhe favors the Olympic bid for 2040

When promoting the Olympics and Paralympics in Germany, Minister of State for Sports Ronald Rauhe would prefer an award for 2040. «2040 will mark the 50th anniversary of reunification. “Here we could send a great signal that also fits in with the values ​​of the Olympic Games,” said the Olympic canoe champion of the German Press Agency shortly before the decision on who Germany would send into the race for the Summer Games.

An extraordinary general meeting of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) will vote on Saturday in Baden-Baden between the remaining candidates Munich and Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr after Berlin withdrew on Thursday. The German application is valid for the games in 2036, 2040 or 2044.

«From my personal history, 2040 would be my favorite date. This has to do with the fact that I am a Berlin child. As a school child, I experienced what happens to people when a wall falls, when people grow together again, when two population groups that were separated become a community again," said Rauhe. “Ultimately, one thing counts above all: bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games back to our country. No matter when."

Rauhe: “Don’t just strengthen one region”

The ex-athlete, who was appointed successor to Christiane Schenderlein (CDU) at the beginning of September, did not want to state a preference for one of the two candidates. The fact that Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr, unlike Munich, also nominated venues in eastern Germany such as Rostock-Warnemünde and Markkleeberg in Saxony, is not the deciding factor for Rauhe. «I think it's good when eastern Germany also plays an important role. In the end, it's also about creating games that are as compact as possible for the athletes. The IOC is also looking at that,” he said.

Rauhe is counting on the DOSB members to choose the internationally most promising applicant. “The decision will be made by sport, and I assume that it will make it with a lot of responsibility,” affirmed the Minister of State for Sport.

After the election, the losers would also have to unite behind the winner. “It's not just about showing the applicant region in the best light, it's about much more. We want to promote projects and further developments in the area of ​​sports and sports infrastructure throughout the country. It is my concern that we strengthen not just one region, but all of Germany - and of course German sport," said Rauhe.