Hamburg rejects a bid to host the Olympics and Paralympic Games

Following the negative vote in Hamburg (51,6% No votes to 48,4% Yes votes; 65,6% Yes votes and 34,4% No votes in Kiel) on hosting the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Hamburg and Kiel the organisation managing the bid will discontinue its work. Nikolas Hill, CEO of the organisation, announced this Sunday.

"The citizens of Hamburg and Kiel have voted, and the result could not be more different. The result is a bitter pill for us to swallow, but a democratic decision must simply be accepted. It is obvious that without the majority support of the citizens of Hamburg we cannot win a bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games here. We have always said that the candidacy can only be successful if it is really desired and supported by the citizens," comments Nikolas Hill. "We would like to thank the citizens of Kiel for their Yes and regret that we cannot embark on bidding to host the 2024 Olympics and Paralympic Games on their behalf. The referendum took place in a situation that was quite extraordinary for both sports and all of society, but we have to live with that, and that’s the way it is: We of course fully and utterly accept the fact that the majority of citizens at present do not support a candidacy for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The first phase of the candidacy for the Olympics and Paralympics Games itself achieved much in Hamburg and Kiel: both cities enjoy clearly higher international recognition and even urban development and sports have both been strengthened – a vision was created from which we hopefully benefit in the future, too. The focus now must be on developing the City of Hamburg and sports Germany even without the prospect of the Olympic Games."

In total about 1.3m citizens of Hamburg and 198,000 citizens of Kiel aged 16 and upwards were eligible to vote on whether or not their cities should host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The turnout in Hamburg was 50,1%, while in Kiel 31,7% of the citizens cast their vote. Postal votes have been accepted since the end of October. This Sunday, the citizens were also able to go to polling stations in both cities.

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