Residents in the German city of Munich have voted in favor of a bid to host the Summer Olympics in either 2036, 2040, or 2044, in a referendum held on Sunday.
Results showed 66.4% of voters in the Bavarian capital backed the city’s proposal to bid for hosting rights to the Games once again, having staged the event in 1972.
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The bid will now be for either the 2036, 2040, or 2044 edition.
With 42% of Munich’s 1.1 million eligible voters taking part, the turnout was the highest for a referendum in the city’s history. The previous turnout record was 37.5% in 2001, for a vote on building the Allianz Arena, home to German soccer giants Bayern Munich and host of the 2012 and 2025 UEFA Champions League soccer finals.
Following the result announcement, Munich’s mayor Deiter Reiter has said: “This result is far more than a yes to the Olympics. It is a yes to bold, sustainable, and inclusive urban development.”
Backers for the bid have said hosting the Olympics will aid the development of Munich’s housing, public transport, and businesses. At the same time, opponents have raised concerns over the costs involved in staging the event.
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By GlobalDataMunich is one of four German regions developing a bid to host the Olympics and was the first to hold a vote to gauge support. Berlin, Hamburg, and the Rhine-Ruhr region are to hold referenda in 2026.
The Bavarian city is expected to lean on its experience of hosting large-scale sporting events, its established infrastructure, and public backing to lead the pack.
The German candidate will be selected by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) in late 2026 before being submitted to the International Olympic Committee.
India and Qatar have already flagged potential bids for the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The result comes as European cities face increased opposition from voters to host big sporting events, including the Olympics, due to the costs associated.
Seven German bids to host the Summer or Winter Olympics have failed due to opposition from residents, including a referendum held in 2013, which saw Munich voters reject a proposed bid to host the 2022 Winter Games.
Los Angeles will host the next edition of the Summer Olympics in 2028, while Australia’s Brisbane will stage the event in 2032.
