Népszavazáson dőlne el a Rajna–Ruhr régió olimpiai pályázata
Kirill Kudryavtsev/GETTY IMAGES
With the count due on Sunday, more than four million people in 17 cities in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia are voting by post this week on whether their municipalities should remain in the bid to host a Summer Olympics in 2036, 2040 or 2044.
What is at stake goes far beyond a local consultation. The region is pitching itself as a distinctive option in Germany's Olympic race, with a decentralised model spanning hubs such as Cologne, Düsseldorf, Essen, Dortmund, Bochum, Duisburg and Aachen. On 26 September, in Baden-Baden, the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) is to decide which project will represent Germany before the International Olympic Committee, in a contest that also includes Munich, Hamburg and Berlin.
The referendum is being held exclusively by post. For the result to be valid, a simple yes majority is not enough: in cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, the proposal must also be backed by at least 10% of the electorate, while in smaller municipalities the threshold can rise to 20%. Any city that rejects the bid would drop out of the plan and, although the regional government has provided for alternative venues, a setback in one of the larger municipalities could weaken the proposal as a whole.
The bid, rebranded as 'CologneRhineRuhr' and refocused to place Cologne at the centre of the international narrative, is being promoted as a compact project built around legacy. Its backers argue that almost all events could be staged in existing or temporary venues, with large capacities designed to give athletes extraordinary visibility. The plan includes swimming at Schalke's stadium, indoor sports in Düsseldorf and football in Dortmund, in addition to equestrian events in Aachen.
Christoph Niessen, president of the North Rhine-Westphalia sports federation, summed up that strength in an interview with local newspaper Aachener Zeitung, saying "We already have at least 95% of the sports venues needed for the Olympic Games. And they are not virtual; you can visit them now. We are talking about very good, in some cases internationally renowned sports facilities."
That emphasis on infrastructure ties in with another of the bid's central pillars: limiting new construction as much as possible while linking the project to a lasting urban legacy. Promoters say that reliance on existing or temporary venues is intended to contain the impact of the Games, while the temporary athletics stadium and the village are envisaged as the basis for a new urban development able to accommodate around 10,000 people.
Supporters also point to the region's recent experience of major events, from the 2025 World University Games to European and world championships in various disciplines, and argue that an Olympics would help accelerate investment in public transport, digitalisation, accessibility and sporting facilities. They also stress that the dispersed format, supported by four international airports, motorways and a rail network, would allow 95% of athletes to reach their venues in under an hour.
North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President Hendrik Wüst has also turned the consultation into a political wager of his own and has said he is convinced that public backing will be broad. "From everything I can sense from people, the support will be very, very clear," he told the SID news agency. "No one asks as many people as we do."
The reservations, however, are numerous and span both the economic and operational dimensions. Organising costs are estimated at €4.8 billion, against projected revenues of €5.2 bn from sponsorship, ticket sales and broadcasting rights. That forecast, however, sits alongside the recent experience of Paris 2024, whose final budget rose far above what had initially been announced. Critics also warn that the economic return may be short-lived and that, even if the bulk of public spending were concentrated on security and medical assistance, the financial strain could still feed through into already stretched local budgets, with possible cuts in social, cultural or environmental spending.
There are also doubts about mobility in a region long associated with traffic jams and rail delays, precisely where the bid claims one of its greatest strengths. Continuing objections also focus on the environmental footprint arising from energy consumption and international travel, as well as on possible social effects such as rising housing costs or processes of urban displacement.
The consultation is part of a demanding race: Munich has already secured 66.4% support in its referendum, Hamburg will vote on 31 May and Berlin is proceeding without holding an equivalent consultation. The next step will be the DOSB's technical comparison, which will assess domestic and international support, sporting operability, legacy, costs and major infrastructure projects before choosing a candidate.
A week before voting closed, Radio 91.2 put turnout at between 20% and 30% depending on the city, with Cologne approaching 34% and Monheim am Rhein at around a third, while Herten and Oberhausen were among the least mobilised. On Sunday, when the count begins and the map of yes and no becomes clear, Rhine-Ruhr will find out just how far its Olympic ambition is backed by a sufficient majority to keep competing.