Berlin Government Supports Summer Olympic Bid

(ATR) Government officials in Berlin have initiated the process of bidding to host the 2024 Summer Olympics.

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Berlin, GERMANY:  A handball fan waves a German flag 19 January 2007 at the Max-Schmeling Halle in Berlin, during the opening match Germany vs Brazil. The championship is scheduled to take place from 19 January to 04 February 2007 in several German towns. AFP PHOTO   DDP/MICHAEL KAPPELER      (Photo credit should read MICHAEL KAPPELER/AFP/Getty Images)
Berlin, GERMANY: A handball fan waves a German flag 19 January 2007 at the Max-Schmeling Halle in Berlin, during the opening match Germany vs Brazil. The championship is scheduled to take place from 19 January to 04 February 2007 in several German towns. AFP PHOTO DDP/MICHAEL KAPPELER (Photo credit should read MICHAEL KAPPELER/AFP/Getty Images)

(ATR) Government officials in Berlin on Tuesday initiated the process of bidding to host the 2024 Summer Olympics.

As a results, the German Olympic Committee (DOSB) has now received an order to prepare for Berlin’s candidature.

The city has until the end of August to complete a 13-question DOSB survey on its readiness. Hamburg received the questionnaire as well.

However, with government support assured, the question now stands of whether the citizens of Berlin will grant support for a bid. The city would also like to see the IOC reformed in a way that would make hosting a Summer Olympics a more affordable proposition.

Such changes are expected as part of IOC president Thomas Bach’s Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms.

The city would also like to see a bid created in an environmentally-friendly fashion.

According to one senator, Berlin would be helped by their existing infrastructure, a clear advantage over the Hamburg bid. Each national Olympic committee can nominate just one city for each Games.

Berlin could use existing venues like Max-Schmeling-Halle, which was part of the city’s failed bid to host the 2000 Olympics. No new buildings are planned at this stage.

One major need would be for an Olympic Village. One location under consideration is the airport area in Tegel. Cost, however, is unknown at this point.

Also unknown is how much the federal government would contribute toward a bid, though it would be necessary for the bid to move forward.

Written by Heinz Peter Kreuzer

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