The cities of Munich and Kiel have announced their joint bid to host the sailing competitions as part of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Munich. The planned competitions are to take place on Kiel Fjord in Schleswig-Holstein. This cooperation is part of Munich's host bid to the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB). Munich's aim is to be nominated as the German Olympic candidate for 2036, 2040, or 2044. The initiative underscores the focus on utilising existing infrastructure and continuing an established collaboration that was already successful during the 1972 Games.
The decision to locate the sailing competitions in Kiel is based on the historical connection between both cities, which jointly hosted the Olympic Games in 1972. Munich's Mayor, Dominik Krause, emphasised that this successful cooperation should be revived. He highlighted the commonalities, including strong public support for sports, experience in hosting major events, a robust economy, and a well-maintained, sustainable Olympic legacy. Schleswig-Holstein's Minister-President, Daniel Günther, affirmed full support for Munich's bid and described the choice of Kiel as the sailing venue as significant news for the federal state.
Kiel as a venue for Olympic coastal sports
Kiel, known as “Kiel.Sailing.City”, enjoys a worldwide reputation in sailing. The city is the federal training centre for sailing and thus the hub for elite sailing sports in Germany. This position, combined with the existing infrastructure in Schilksee and an outstanding sailing area that meets all requirements for Olympic coastal sports, predestines Kiel for hosting the competitions. The Bavarian Sailing Association is also represented in Kiel with a joint junior performance centre. Kiel's Mayor, Dr. Samet Yilmaz, expressed the wish to once again prove that Kiel represents an international benchmark for organising sailing competitions, referring to the successful staging of the regattas in 1972.
Munich's bid concept integrates Kiel optimally due to these prerequisites. The bid places great importance on sustainability, the use of existing sports venues, and the cultivation of the Olympic legacy. The city of Munich itself scores with its global appeal, its expertise, and broad public support. This was confirmed in 2013 by a referendum, in which 66.4 percent of voters, with a turnout of 42 percent, voted in favour of the Summer Olympics. Bavaria's Minister-President, Dr. Markus Söder, highlighted that both Munich and Kiel could provide the necessary infrastructure for sports venues and hotels and present a compact, sustainable concept. The Olympic bid aims to establish the Games as a communal experience for the entire region, utilising the organisational strength and experience of both locations.
- —Munich and Kiel are planning a rerun of their successful 1972 collaboration for the Olympic sailing competitions.
- —Kiel is chosen as the venue due to its reputation, its status as a federal sailing centre, and its proven infrastructure.
- —The bid concept focuses on sustainability, the use of existing sports venues, and the Olympic legacy of both cities.
- —Strong public support in Munich and among sailing associations in Germany underscores the broad acceptance of the bid.
The bid from Munich and Kiel is described as a “perfect match”, representing a connection between South and North Germany. The combination of Munich's status as a sports city and Kiel's position as a leading sailing location is intended to maximise the appeal of the German Olympic bid. The Free State of Bavaria assures full support for the project and emphasises its ability to provide the required infrastructure and security measures. This joint approach aims to bring the world's biggest sporting event to Germany, supported by a clear majority of the population and the backing of six sailing associations, representing 75 percent of Germany's sailors.
