Overview
- The campaign unveiled the KölnRheinRuhr name and logo in Cologne’s Lanxess-Arena alongside a new promotional film highlighting proposed venues.
- Public light-video installations will run at Cologne’s Römisch-Germanisches Museum, Düsseldorf’s Schauspielhaus, Essen’s Zeche Zollverein and Dortmund’s U to boost awareness.
- An advocacy team featuring Christoph Kramer, Isabell Werth, Markus Rehm, Britta Heidemann and former NRW minister-president Peer Steinbrück will front outreach.
- Roughly four million eligible voters will decide by postal-only Ratsbürgerentscheide on April 19 in 17 municipalities, with turnout quorums set between 10% and 20% and positive results required to advance.
- NRW faces domestic competition from Munich, Berlin and Hamburg, with the DOSB scheduled to choose Germany’s bidder on September 26, 2026, as environmental group BUND promotes a Nolympia campaign in Cologne.