The cities of Munich and Kiel are joining forces for Munich’s bid to the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB); tomorrow, Saturday, September 26, 2026, all eyes will be on Baden-Baden, where the decision is set to be made at the Kurhaus
Munich—one of the world's premier sports cities—and Kiel—"Kiel.Sailing.City"—are teaming up to support the Olympics, just as they did in 1972. According to the bid profile, the sailing competitions for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Munich are slated to take place on the Kiel Fjord
"Kiel is a top destination for sailing, and Munich is one of the world's best sports cities," stated Bavarian Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder to the press (DEUTSCH, ENGLISH)
Munich. Tomorrow, all eyes will turn to Baden-Baden, where the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) will make the decision that Federal President Walter Steinmeier will then officially announce regarding the national bidders for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Germany. The Olympics in Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein—featuring both mountains and the coast—would be something special! (according to Dr. Markus Söder – see below). The state governments of Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein are enthusiastically backing the nomination of Munich and Kiel as Olympic candidates. The sailing competitions for the Olympic and Paralympic Games hosted by Munich would take place in Kiel, on the Kiel Fjord in Schleswig-Holstein. To this end, the cities of Munich and Kiel are joining forces in Munich’s bid to the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB). Munich’s goal is to be nominated as the German Olympic candidate for the years 2036, 2040, or 2044. The state premiers and the mayors of both cities expressed their enthusiasm to the press as follows:
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| Munich Olympic Stadium – venue for the 1972 Summer Games; photo: Helga Waess |
Bavaria’s Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder:
“Greetings from both South and North—let’s bring the Olympics here! Munich and Kiel are a perfect match. The joint partnership from 1972 is coming back to life—South and North are joining forces. Both locations stand for high quality and international appeal. Kiel is a premier destination for sailing, and Munich is one of the world’s best cities for sports. It is the perfect ‘one-two pass’ for Germany’s Olympic bid. As the Free State, we are backing the Olympic bid with all our might, and we also wish to express our sincere thanks to Rostock—our fellow contender for the sailing events—for their equally strong proposal and the spirit of trust and cooperation. Now, our focus is entirely on the decision by the DOSB (German Olympic Sports Confederation): Munich and Kiel offer the best overall package for Games that will be a success on the international stage. We can provide the necessary infrastructure regarding sports venues and hotels; our proposal is compact and sustainable; we guarantee the necessary security; and both cities share an Olympic tradition. The Olympics in Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein—featuring both mountains and the coast—now that would be something special!”
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| Marienplatz with the New Town Hall and the Frauenkirche in Munich; photo: A. Waess, September 2026 |
Munich Mayor Dominik Krause sees Kiel as a great partner in the North
"Munich and Kiel wrote Olympic history together in 1972; now we want to revitalize this successful collaboration. Kiel and Munich share a great deal: strong public support for sports, experience in hosting major events, a robust economy, and—above all—a living, sustainable Olympic legacy. In Kiel and Schleswig-Holstein, we have a fantastic partner in the North that perfectly complements Munich’s Olympic bid."
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| Beach view – Baltic Sea, Press photo: Helga Waess |
Schleswig-Holstein Minister-President Daniel Günther
“Munich and Kiel—a perfect match. The fact that Munich has chosen Kiel as its sailing venue is fantastic news for Schleswig-Holstein. Munich and Kiel made Olympic history together back in 1972, with the Games held in the south and the regattas taking place on the Kiel Fjord. We now want to build on that legacy: Munich has our full support in its bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We hope Munich wins the bid and want to bring the world’s biggest sporting event to Germany together—backed by a clear majority and strong momentum from the people of Munich and Kiel. We also have the backing of six sailing associations, representing 75 percent of all sailors in Germany; last Friday, they clearly declared their support for Kiel. After all, sailing is part of Kiel’s DNA. And with Kiel Week, we prove year after year that we are capable of hosting major world-class sporting events. If the Olympic and Paralympic Games come to Germany, Kiel must be part of them. We want the Olympic sailing competitions to take place where the sport is truly at home in Germany: in a world-class sailing area, at the national sailing training center, utilizing the infrastructure in Schilksee—and in a city that invites the world to sail here every year.”
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| Beach baskets on the Baltic Sea; photo: Helga Waess |
Kiel’s Mayor Dr. Samet Yilmaz
"Munich and Kiel have already collaborated very successfully in the past, jointly organizing magnificent Olympic Games. Following the 1972 regattas, the president of the world sailing federation praised the event with the words: 'Do it like in Kiel.' We are eager to demonstrate that Kiel.Sailing.City is the international benchmark for outstanding sailing competition organization and that Kiel is the premier choice as the German venue for Olympic sailing."
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| Where DOSB members meet: the Kurhaus and Kurpark in Baden-Baden in summer. The neoclassical Kurhaus Baden-Baden—designed by Friedrich Weinbrenner and dating back to the 19th century—houses, among other things, the famous casino and the "Bellini" bar and restaurant. Photo: Helga Waess (Press Photo Archive) |
Munich is bidding to the DOSB to become the German candidate city for hosting the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The plan is for the Olympic coastal sports events to take place in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Kiel. The city of Kiel enjoys a global reputation and, as the site of the Federal Sailing Training Center, serves as the hub for elite sailing in Germany. The Bavarian Sailing Association is also represented in Kiel through a joint high-performance training center for young talent.
Kiel was already part of the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich and boasts proven infrastructure, an Olympic tradition, and an outstanding sailing area that meets the requirements for all Olympic coastal sports. Kiel thus integrates perfectly into Munich’s bid concept, which focuses on sustainability, existing sports facilities, and an outstanding Olympic legacy.
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| Allianz Arena, Munich; photo: A. Waess (Press Archive) |
Munich’s Olympic bid stands out thanks to its global appeal, sustainability, expertise, and strong public support
The goal is to host Games that serve as a major shared experience for the city and the entire country. In doing so, Munich has uniquely preserved and built upon the Olympic legacy of 1972.
The Olympic Park once again forms the heart of this compact and sustainable bid concept. Furthermore, Bavaria offers organizational strength, reliability, and experience gained from hosting numerous top-tier international sporting events. Added to this is Munich’s global appeal—characterized by sporting excellence, hospitality, the Bavarian way of life, and a unique blend of urban living, cultural landscapes, and nature.
Munich is also the first city in Olympic history to secure public backing for the Summer Games through a referendum: 66.4 percent voted "Yes" to the Olympics, with a record turnout of 42 percent for a referendum. Consequently, Munich possesses the greatest international potential to successfully secure the right for Germany to host the Olympic Games.
