The Olympics are magical, for athletes and hosts alike. You become part of something bigger when the entire world comes together in one place at the same time. History is written, legends are born and pioneering developments are initiated. This was last the case in Paris in 2024.
We experienced games of a new era. The first Olympic Games organized from A to Z according to the reforms of the Olympic Agenda 2020: more youthful, more urban, more inclusive, more sustainable. The games shaped the city and had a catalytic effect. Among other things, it is now possible to swim in the Seine again after more than 100 years. When planning the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the principle applied: not for the Olympics, but through the Olympics.
The pioneer for such an approach was Munich in 1972. The Olympic Games 54 years ago were an exemplary accelerator for Munich as a cosmopolitan city with a heart. The Olympic Park, the Olympic Village as a later “student city”, the transport infrastructure: Munich demonstrated in 1972 what other hosts later carried on.
So now the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) is applying again for the Olympic Games, and Munich is the German candidate. I have to admit that I was initially skeptical as to whether intra-German competition was the right path. This skepticism has long since disappeared. The result of the competition is a strong application that the country has rallied behind. Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr are not losers, but competitors who, after tough and fair competition, have recognized Munich's strength and are now supporting them - like eliminated athletes from the same team in the same competition.
The winner of the domestic German competition is sport
The two-thirds majorities in the referendums in Munich and Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr also speak for the success of the process. This shows that our country has the confidence to do something; long-term projects are still possible in Germany. With well-coordinated processes, we can create a spirit of optimism and learn from past defeats. This is also like in sports. Every athlete knows that victories are not everything and defeats are not the end of everything. The domestic competition has mobilized many ambitions and has already produced a winner: sport in Germany.
Now everyone involved – the DOSB, the federal government, the Free State of Bavaria and the city of Munich – must understand and treat the application as a matter for the boss. German companies are also in demand. The accompanying economic initiative is a strong signal that the German economy recognizes and supports the value of major sporting events.
It is important to take the enthusiasm of the first application phase with you into the international race. The decision for Munich was a big step, but there is still a long way to go to the finish line. The national initiatives must be synchronized with the international steps, the trust that has been built must be expanded and the spirit of optimism in Germany must be conveyed to the world.
Thomas Bach was President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2013 to 2025. He is now honorary president of the IOC. In 1976 he won Olympic gold as a team foil fencer.
