Germany could be competing with India for the hosting rights of the 2036 Olympics. Berlin, Germany’s capital and the country’s biggest city, has formally presented its bid to host the Summer Olympic Games.
According to an Associated Press report Berlin Sports Minister Iris Spranger has said the city is exploring opportunities to host Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044. If Berlin does bid for the 2036 Olympics, then it will be competing with India to win the hosting rights of that year’s Summer Olympic Games.
Earlier this month Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reaffirmed India’s push to host the 2036 edition of the Olympics. “Today, India is trying to hold the Olympics in 2036.” Modi said in a video message which was played during the inauguration ceremony of the Khelo India Youth Games held in Bihar.
A March 15 Reuters report suggests that Ahmedabad in Gujarat is India’s city of choice to hold the Olympics. In October last year, the Indian Olympic Association submitted a letter to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Future Host Commission. The letter marked India’s official bid to hold the Games.
Should, Berlin submit a bid for the 2036 Olympics and eventual brag the rights to host the prestigious global event, the 2036 Olympics will take place on the 100th anniversary of the 1936 Olympics Games which were also hosted by Berlin.
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The 1936 Olympics though are infamous as they were held during Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime. The 1936 Olympics are also recalled for the heroics of American sprinter Jesse Owen who won four golds that year. According to Owen’s admissions, Hitler did not shake hands with him as Owen was an African American. The former German chancellor was personally involved in the designing and construction of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. The stadium acted as the venue for the track and field events of those Games. More recently, the stadium hosted six football matches of the 2024 Euros including the final.
The Associated Press report though points that Berlin will first have to deal with internal resistance as many Berliners are against the idea of staging the Olympics. An initiative called “NOlympia Berlin” has already been announced. Under this initiative Berliners who are against the Olympics are collecting enough signatures to force a referendum.
Prakhar Sachdeo
The Sportz Planet Desk
