Germany Wins with "BERLIN+" Berlin Hands Over Detailed Olympic and Paralympic Bid Concept to Germany’s National Sports Federations

Berlin, 22th June 2026

On Friday, Berlin welcomed 35 representatives of the national sports federations of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) to the capital and formally handed over the detailed concept entitled “Germany Wins with BERLIN+.” With this concept, Berlin, together with Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Saxony, is competing to be selected by the DOSB at the end of September as Germany’s candidate to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The meeting focused on thanking the federations for their support in developing the bid concept and on further discussions regarding the content of BERLIN+. Over the past several months, numerous sports federations contributed their expertise to the planning process and played a key role in shaping the concept.

Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin:

“BERLIN+ is far more than a bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is a project for the future of our city, our partner regions, and Germany as a whole. Together, we have developed a concept that combines sustainability, inclusion, social cohesion, and a passion for sport. Our discussions with the national federations once again highlighted the strong interest in BERLIN+ and the willingness to pursue this path together. Berlin is ready to host the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Iris Spranger, Senator for the Interior and Sport:

“The detailed concept submitted by Berlin and its partners demonstrates what Olympic and Paralympic Games in the 21st century can look like. They will be open, inclusive, sustainable, and firmly rooted in the everyday lives of the people in our city. Through BERLIN+, we strengthen social cohesion, advance urban development, promote grassroots and elite sport, and create a lasting legacy for future generations.”

Kaweh Niroomand, Olympic Commissioner of the State of Berlin:

“The detailed concept is the result of an extraordinary collective effort. The national sports federations, our partner states, Berlin’s districts, numerous institutions, and many people across our city all contributed to its development. Together, we have created a bid that builds on existing sports venues, generates sustainable momentum for the future, and places people at its heart. The handover of the detailed concept was therefore also an expression of gratitude to everyone who contributed their expertise, ideas, and perspectives to this process. BERLIN+ demonstrates that Olympic and Paralympic Games can be conceived in a sustainable, modern, and collaborative way—for the benefit of sport, the city, and the country as a whole.”

The visit began in the afternoon with a reception for the federation representatives at Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus). The group then travelled together to the Olympiastadion Berlin.

There, Governing Mayor Kai Wegner and Senator for the Interior and Sport Iris Spranger welcomed additional distinguished guests, including former Governing Mayors Klaus Wowereit and Michael Müller, members of the advisory board of Berlin’s Olympic bid, and ambassadors of the campaign. Among them were Olympic champions Natascha Keller, Ronald Rauhe, Elena Semechin, and Kristina Vogel.

Following a group photo on the Marathon Gate terrace, the BERLIN+ bid concept was presented inside the Olympic Stadium. The programme was hosted by Fabian von Wachsmann and Berlin’s Olympic Commissioner, Kaweh Niroomand.

The highlight of the afternoon was the ceremonial handover of the “Germany Wins with BERLIN+” concept by 40 children and young people. The detailed concept—the comprehensive written version of the bid—provides an extensive overview of the plans for potential Olympic and Paralympic Games in Berlin and the partner regions.

During the subsequent reception at the Olympic Stadium, representatives from sport, politics, and civil society took the opportunity to continue discussions about the bid and the future of elite sport in Germany.

The detailed concept “Germany Wins with BERLIN+” is now also available to the public and can be accessed at www.berlin-olympiabewerbung.de/presse.

Background: The Detailed Concept “Germany Wins with BERLIN+”

For the first time, the concept brings together BERLIN+’s complete plans for potential Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, 2040, or 2044. The document consolidates the key elements of the bid and outlines the opportunities and prospects the Games could create for Berlin, the partner regions, and Germany as a whole.

Under the guiding principle “Games that Connect,” BERLIN+ represents a new vision of the Olympic and Paralympic Games: sustainable rather than oversized, collaborative rather than isolated, and designed to create an impact that extends far beyond the duration of the sporting event itself. The bid is jointly supported by Berlin and the partner states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Saxony.

At its core is the vision of using the Olympic and Paralympic Games as a catalyst for liveable, inclusive, and future-oriented urban development. More than 97 percent of all competition venues already exist or would be built on a temporary basis. Investments are focused on areas that provide long-term benefits, including sport, mobility, accessibility, and sustainable urban development.

The concept demonstrates not only how the Games could be organised, but above all how they could generate lasting momentum for sport, mobility, accessibility, and the development of the city and its partner regions.

A central component of the concept is the Host City Programme. It views the Games as a comprehensive urban experience that connects sport, culture, and public spaces. Its centrepiece is an Olympic Route stretching from the Olympic Stadium through Berlin’s city centre to Tempelhofer Feld. Along this route, spaces for interaction and shared experiences would be created. At the same time, iconic Berlin landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate and Tempelhofer Feld would become part of a distinctive Olympic identity.

The detailed concept also documents the extensive involvement of Berlin’s citizens throughout the bidding process. The results of public dialogue formats, as well as the Citizens’ Charter for the Olympics developed from them, have already been incorporated into the planning and form an important foundation for the further development of the bid. Transparency, dialogue, and participation are key principles of the entire project.

With the publication of the concept, the next phase of the national selection process begins. BERLIN+ combines sporting excellence, social value, and sustainable development in a bid that reimagines the Olympic and Paralympic Games and aims to contribute to the future of sport in Germany.

Source: Senatskanzlei Berlin