Berlin Plans Olympic Bid as Centennial of 1936 Games Approaches

Berlin is aiming to host the Olympic Games once more, potentially marking the centennial of the 1936 event held during the Nazi era.
The city’s mayor, Kai Wegner, plans to unveil a bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with support from four other German states, at a presentation scheduled for Tuesday at Berlin’s historic Olympic stadium.
Although the official announcement didn’t specify which edition of the Games Berlin is targeting, the earliest upcoming opportunity coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1936 Olympics. The German Olympic Sports Confederation has also indicated that a bid for the 2040 Games could be under consideration.
Los Angeles is set to host the 2028 Olympics, followed by Brisbane in 2032.
The neighboring states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Schleswig-Holstein would participate in hosting events as part of Berlin’s proposal.
The Olympiastadion, originally constructed for the 1936 Games, remains a key sports venue in the city. Its design and construction were influenced by Adolf Hitler after the Nazis came to power in 1933, two years after Berlin was awarded the Games.
Though initially hesitant about hosting, Hitler embraced the event’s value for propaganda, commissioning filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl to capture the Games in the documentary Olympia.
Today, the Olympiastadion continues to be used for major events, including last year’s European Championship soccer final between Spain and England. It also serves as the home ground for Hertha Berlin and is set to host the German Cup final this weekend between Stuttgart and Arminia Bielefeld.