Overview

• Torsten Burmester called for tailoring the Rhein–Ruhr concept more explicitly to Cologne in comments to the German press agency dpa.
• He proposed using the Cologne Cathedral as the bid’s signature symbol, saying he would “lead with the cathedral spires.”
• Burmester won Cologne’s mayoral runoff and previously served as chairman of the German Olympic Sports Confederation until late last year.
• North Rhine–Westphalia is developing a regional bid for the Rhine and Ruhr, with the DOSB due to choose a national candidate in autumn 2026.
• He said the suggestion was not driven by local self‑interest and framed it as a strategic move to strengthen international recognition.