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The Olympics aren't a quick, short race.

Baden-Württemberg should play host to the Olympic Games, according to the AfD. Other parties aren't universally against the idea, but highlight the significant obstacles.

, and Administrator

2025 September 8 . 5:13 PM

2 min read

The Olympics aren't a short, quick race.

The Olympics aren't a quick, short race.

In a surprising turn of events, the AfD faction in the state parliament of Baden-Württemberg has expressed support for hosting the Olympic Games as a "project for the future." However, it's important to note that no formal proposal for hosting the Games in 2036, 2040, or 2044 has been made yet.

Manuel Hailfinger (CDU) has set a deadline for concepts for a German bid, with submissions due by the end of May. The state capital, Stuttgart, has a history with the Olympic Games, having applied for the 2012 Games, but the bid failed at the national level with a financial commitment of 15 million euros from the state capital.

The current minister responsible for sports in Stuttgart, Theresa Schopper (Greens), has not explicitly endorsed the idea of a repeat bid, but she did praise Baden-Württemberg as a successful sports region in principle.

Other cities in Germany, such as Munich and Hamburg, have recently bid for the Olympic Games but were unsuccessful. The proposal for hosting the Games in Baden-Württemberg is facing opposition, with Dennis Birnstock (FDP) not envisioning Olympics in the state in the foreseeable future. He warns against the possibility of the AfD gaining control of the Olympic Games, stating that it could lead to a scenario where "no one goes."

Klaus Ranger (SPD) has expressed his faction's potential support for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, but only if they were held in Germany. Petra Häffner (Greens) emphasized that a potential bid should prioritize sustainability, with no stadiums built without follow-up use, no short-term large projects, and a focus on energy conservation and climate-friendly mobility concepts.

It's worth mentioning that the German winner, Leipzig, did not make the cut internationally in a bid for the Olympic Games, although the specific year or event is not specified. The corresponding procedures for a potential bid have already begun, but there are no domestic interested parties at present.

Hans-Peter Höerner believes the Olympic idea represents "readiness to perform, fairness, and boundless enthusiasm." A central decision regarding the German bid will be made in the fall of 2026. The state of Baden-Württemberg finds itself at a crossroads, with the potential to host the Olympic Games or to watch from the sidelines as other cities bid for the prestigious event.