North Rhine-Westphalia chiefs officially declare Olympic bid interest

The German state of North Rhine-Westphalia moved a step closer on Tuesday to bidding for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Andrea Milz, state secretary for sport, and Dusseldorf mayor Stephan Keller signed a letter of intent declaring the state wants to be Germany’s bidder.

German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) is looking at bidding for the 2036 or 2040 Summer Games. Berlin has also expressed an interest in the 2036 edition, which would be 100 years since the German capital last hosted the sporting extravaganza under Nazi rule. Hamburg, Munich and Leipzig are also weighing up bids.

“North Rhine-Westphalia can submit a bid to the DOSB that is 100% ecologically, economically and socially sustainable,” Milz said in a statement.

The state is Germany’s most populous and the cities along the Ruhr and Rhine rivers including capital Dusseldorf, Cologne, Dortmund and Essen previously planned a bid together for the 2032 Games, which was awarded to Brisbane. Paris hosts 2024 and Los Angeles 2028.

“Located in the heart of Europe, Rhine-Ruhr City will bring the Games to the people and thus meet the requirements of ecologically sustainable transport options,” the statement added.

Bid leaders said 95% of the sports facilities required for the Games are already in place or can be built temporarily. This is in line with the DOSB’s strategy and the expectations of the International Olympic Committee.

The most recent official German Olympic campaigns failed due to public resistance in Munich (Winter Games) and Hamburg (Summer Games). The country last hosted the 1972 Munich Olympics.