Söder and Krause push to speed Munich Olympics bid

Bavaria’s premier, Markus Söder, and Munich Mayor Dominik Krause are seeking to accelerate the city’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, including through legislation to speed up projects and limit legal challenges, BR reported Monday.

The Bavarian government plans to introduce a dedicated Olympics law covering state responsibilities in planning, construction and procurement. Söder said the aim was to have projects ready for construction by 2029, when the International Olympic Committee is due to decide on the 2036 Games. He said similar legislation was planned at federal level to restrict challenges against Olympic construction projects.

Outside Munich’s city hall, a handful of demonstrators protested against the plans. Ramona Rösch of the NOlympia alliance warned that new underground lines would produce so much carbon dioxide that Munich’s goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2035 could be difficult to meet. She also criticised plans for an Olympic Village in Daglfing, saying construction would cover previously untouched moorland and fields.

The transport plans include extending the U4 underground line in eastern Munich to the proposed Olympic Village and building a new U9 line through the city. Munich is also considering whether to approve plans for extending the U5 from Pasing to Freiham. Krause said he had instructed city officials to assess what could be completed by 2036 and expected reliable results in about three weeks. He said there were no indications so far that any projects would have to be ruled out.

Munich plans to set up a unit in the mayor’s office, an “Olympic cabinet” made up of city leaders and relevant departments, and an Olympic commission to involve the city council. The council is due to vote on the measures on Wednesday, and the new unit is expected to begin work in November. If Munich remains in the running after the IOC narrows the applicant field in March, the city plans to establish a bid company. The application is expected to cost up to 20 million euros, shared among the parties involved.

The bid covers the 2036, 2040 and 2044 Games, with 2036 currently seen as the most realistic target. Söder named Budapest as Munich’s main competitor. The IOC is expected to narrow the applicant field in March and identify the cities on its shortlist by December 2028.