Berlin has pulled out of the race to become Germany’s candidate to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the city’s mayor said Thursday.
The decision comes two days before the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) is due to select the country’s preferred bid for the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Games.
With Berlin out, only Munich and the Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr region remain in contention for the nomination, which will then face competition from cities around the world.
Berlin’s prospects had already appeared uncertain after the Left party emerged as the strongest party in Sunday’s regional election in the German capital.
Elif Eralp of the Left, who is poised to become Berlin’s next mayor, has been outspoken against the bid, saying she had “made it very clear” that she considers hosting the Olympics “a waste of taxpayer money.”
Berlin was also behind Munich and the Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr campaign after DOSB officials evaluated the rival bids Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s vote.
Munich received 87 out of 100 points and Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr 85, with both rated “very good.” Berlin scored 74.6 points and received a “good” rating.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner, Berlin Interior Senator Iris Spranger and the city’s Olympic Commissioner Kaweh Niroomand held a news conference to announce that Berlin was withdrawing from the running.
“Today is a sad day for Berlin. The Olympic and Paralympic Games would have been a great chance for Berlin and Eastern Germany,” Wegner said.
Bid sources told dpa Wednesday that a withdrawal was coming.
Wegner is a member of the Christian Democrats, who finished a distant second in Sunday’s election, and is stepping down anyway.
Under the “Berlin+” concept, the city had been working with the eastern German states of Brandenburg, Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on an Olympic bid.
Eralp’s stance has been welcomed by some Berliners on social media but has also drawn sharp criticism, including from Bob Hanning, managing director of handball club Füchse Berlin.
“She isn’t even in office yet. And to make a statement like that is despicable. It’s downright cheeky,” he said.
Berlin did not hold a referendum on a potential Olympic bid, and opinion polls were mixed.
Munich and the Rhine-Ruhr region in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia did hold successful plebiscites. Hamburg withdrew from the race after its citizens voted against a bid.
