Overview
- Delegates in Frankfurt backed a ‘Bewertungsmatrix’ 484–1 to compare Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne/Rhein‑Ruhr on international competitiveness, national acceptance, operational suitability, vision/sustainability, and costs.
- An evaluation commission will send key questions to bidders in February; concepts can be revised until June 4, 2026, with the national candidate to be chosen on September 26, 2026, in Baden‑Baden.
- Public votes are set before the selection: Munich already approved its bid (66.4%), Rhein‑Ruhr’s 17 municipalities will vote by mail on April 19, 2026, and Hamburg will hold a referendum on May 31; Berlin has no referendum, which counts against it in the matrix.
- North Rhine‑Westphalia plans to reimburse 85% of referendum costs with a €9.5 million budget; Cologne estimates €2.492 million for its vote (city share €373,000), and Essen puts costs at €1.2 million, as SPD critics question diverting funds from sports investments.
- Hamburg’s senate promises a detailed bid cost estimate by February, while watchdogs and NOlympia groups demand transparency on security spending, even as a DOSB‑commissioned poll reports 74% nationwide support and Thomas Bach urges, “Packen Sie es an!”