Hamburg voters once again reject Olympic bid, leaving Munich, Berlin, and Rhine-Ruhr to compete for German candidacy
A binding referendum on Sunday saw Hamburg residents vote against hosting future Summer Olympics, forcing Mayor Peter Tschentscher to immediately withdraw the city's application. The decision narrows Germany's options to Munich, Berlin, and the Rhine-Ruhr region.
The vote
Voters in the northern German city-state of Hamburg have decisively rejected a bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in a referendum held on Sunday, 31 May. With a turnout of 49.5 percent—652,193 out of 1,315,800 eligible residents aged 16 and over—the "No" side prevailed clearly, though the exact margin was not immediately released. First Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) acknowledged the outcome even before the final vote count was complete.
The people of Hamburg have decided that the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg should not bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games. I deeply regret the result.
He had already informed the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) that Hamburg would withdraw its application. The result is binding on the red-green coalition government.
Political reactions
The vote triggered a wave of disappointment and blame. Sports Senator Andy Grote (SPD) thanked supporters, noting that more than 250,000 Hamburg residents had backed the concept but said the positive energy would be channeled into youth sports programs. Second Mayor Katharina Fegebank (Greens) called the outcome "a bitter disappointment and a missed opportunity for our city," adding that she would nevertheless support whichever German candidate the DOSB selects.
A once-in-a-century opportunity has been lost—a chance for new momentum, international visibility, and urgently needed investments to secure our prosperity for future generations.
Thering, the CDU's state and parliamentary group leader, blamed the governing SPD-Greens, accusing them of a half-hearted campaign. Opposition Left party co-leader Heike Sudmann celebrated the result as "a strong outcome and a good decision for the whole city," while sharply criticizing the Senate's "arrogant and unfair" campaign.
What comes next
With Hamburg out of the running, the DOSB will now choose between Munich, Berlin, and the Rhine-Ruhr region (centered on Cologne) as Germany's official candidate for the Summer Games in 2036, 2040, or 2044. Munich and most municipalities in the Rhine-Ruhr region have already voted in favor of bidding, while Berlin has not held a referendum. The Baltic port of Kiel, which would host sailing events in any German bid, has also voted yes.
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The DOSB is expected to make its final decision on 26 September during an extraordinary general assembly in Baden-Baden. Germany hopes to secure one of the three future Summer Olympics, with Los Angeles hosting in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032.
A familiar outcome
This is the second time Hamburg voters have torpedoed an Olympic dream. In November 2015, a majority rejected a bid for the 2024 Games in a similarly binding referendum. Sunday's result underscores the persistent skepticism in a city that has twice now refused to entertain the prospect of hosting the world's largest sporting event.
