Sports Minister Ronald Rauhe, in coordination with the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the bidding city Munich, is planning a joint meeting with IOC President Kirsty Coventry and Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). Rauhe told the “Spiegel” that this meeting will likely take place in either Lausanne or Berlin.
The purpose of the meeting is twofold: to present the German bid in greater detail and, naturally, to promote Germany as a leading international sports destination. Rauhe also praised Merz for his effort concerning the Olympic bid, noting that “it’s clear that he absolutely wants to bring the Games home.”
Germany intends to bid with Munich for the Summer Olympic Games in 2036, 2040, or 2044. Currently, other nations that have expressed interest include Qatar (Doha), India (Ahmedabad), South Korea (though no city has been selected yet), Hungary (Budapest), Turkey (Istanbul), and South Africa (Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg).
The two-time Olympic champion Rauhe shared that the IOC President sent positive signals during a phone call with Merz and Rauhe last Thursday. She reportedly expressed strong gratitude that Germany is continuing its bidding journey with Munich, viewing the country as a major driver for Europe.
When addressing who will manage the ongoing Olympic process, the Sports Minister was clear: “The DOSB is the leading entity because it is the one submitting the bid to the International Olympic Committee.” However, he argued against a singular front, advocating for the effort to be seen as a collective project, stating that the DOSB will “have a strong team behind it.”
Regarding the timeline, potential bidders can still express their interest to the IOC until the end of October, after which the candidate list for 2036 will be closed. In November, the IOC Selection Commission is scheduled to present the various plans. The IOC will decide in March 2027 which bidders will move into the second phase of the application process, known as the “Strategic Dialogue.” The ultimate awarding of the Summer and Paralympic Games of 2036 is scheduled to take place at a general assembly in mid-2029.
