OLYMPICS-2024/GERMANY Hamburg is preferred choice for Germany's 2024 Olympic Games bid - DOSB

Record ID: 332373

  • Title: OLYMPICS-2024/GERMANY Hamburg is preferred choice for Germany's 2024 Olympic Games bid - DOSB
  • Date: 16th March 2015
  • Summary: DOSB OFFICIALS, DELEGATES AND GUESTS POSING FOR GROUP PHOTO MAN WORKING ON MIXER GROUP PHOTO
  • Embargoed: 31st March 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA14SZ3A39USJXGZ7RR69IAI2AD
  • Story Text: The northern port city of Hamburg was picked on Monday (March 16) as the country's preferred choice for a 2024 summer Olympics bid ahead of Berlin, with the German Olympic Sports Confederation's (DOSB) members to ratify the proposal later this week.
    The DOSB board opted for Olympic newcomers Hamburg instead of Berlin, who hosted the Games in 1936, after an all-day meeting on Monday and following polls last week that showed Hamburg citizens were more in favour of the Games (64 percent) than the capital's residents (55 percent).
    But it was also Germany's 33 top sports federations that gave a majority to Hamburg, with 18 in favour of the port city and 11 for the capital.
    Four federations voted for both cities.
    DOSB chairman Alfons Hoermann told reporters that the experts, who briefed the board after the cities' presentations, helped swing the board's votes in favour of Hamburg.
    "The board has reached a majority decision for the city of Hamburg, and the board has unanimously backed the proposal for Hamburg. That is why we are here united in front of you, we stand united in front of the sports community in Germany and we will present this recommendation next Saturday at the St Paul's Church in Frankfurt," Hoermann told media.
    The DOSB members are expected to ratify the decision on March 21.
    Boston and Rome have already officially launched their candidacy with several more cities, including Paris, Doha, Istanbul and Baku, seen as possible contenders until the Sept. 15 deadline.
    Hamburg, which hopes to use centrally-located land near the port to build some of the venues in a compact inner-city concept, will now need to stage a local referendum by September.
    "Hamburg presents a fascinating and solid Olympic concept. This will allow to advance the development of a northern German and northern European metropolitan region. And the city will make possible the long-awaited leap across the River Elbe. The (Olympic) project will be an excellent reference for exemplary, long-term urban development," Hoermann said.
    Hamburg's concept is one that sees the Games held in the Kleiner Grasbrook area, technically an island but only a 10-minute walk from the city centre, that would become the Olympic park.
    The plan is to have every venue accessible on foot or by bicycle.
    Hoermann said after the ratification of the decision next Saturday, the work would begin, including setting a date for a referendum and advancing plans for the location of the sailling competitions.
    "We are looking forward to showcasing the city of Hamburg, next Saturday, at the St Paul's Church. After that, the work begins. It is essential that we develop further the concept for a location for the sailing competition; the date for the referendum, to prepare for the referendum and, of course, to maintain constant public dialogue with citizens. Only this way, ladies and gentlemen, we will be able to make the vision for the Olympic and Paralympic games, a reality here in Germany," Hoermann said.
    Officials are eager to shore up support before handing in their candidacy by Sept. 15 in order to avoid strong opposition during the two-year campaign period until a decision by the International Olympic Committee in 2017.
    "We also need the support of the entire country. I, therefore, would like to thank in particular Senator (Frank) Henkel (Berlin's senator for interior affairs) and the German capital, Berlin, who has today reinforced his commitment and support towards the city of Hamburg. I am sure, the sports-oriented city of Berlin, will benefit as well from all sports elsewhere in Germany. And more than that, this Olympic bid is a project for the whole of Germany. So let's do it," Hoermann added.
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