New Mayor: Tailor Olympia Bid More to Cologne - New Cologne Mayor Proposes City-Centric Olympic Bid Around Iconic Cathedral
Torsten Burmester, the newly elected mayor of Cologne, has proposed that North Rhine-Westphalia's Olympics bid should focus more on the city, highlighting the international recognition of the Cologne Cathedral. The decision on which German city or region will bid for the Paris Olympics, 2036 Olympics, 2040 Olympics, or 2044 Olympics is still pending.
Burmester, who previously served as the chairman of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), won the mayoral runoff in Cologne, Germany's fourth-largest city, on Sunday. He suggested that the state's Olympics bid should centre around Cologne, rather than the previously planned Rhine and Ruhr region approach. Burmester believes that emphasizing the Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, could boost the bid's international appeal and chances of success.
The DOSB aims to decide in autumn 2026 which concept and city or region to bid for the Olympics. Other cities, including Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich, have also presented concepts for Olympics bids. North Rhine-Westphalia's initial plan was to bid with the Rhine and Ruhr region, but Burmester's proposal could shift the focus towards Cologne.
Torsten Burmester's election as Cologne's mayor has brought a new perspective to North Rhine-Westphalia's Olympics bid. By suggesting a greater focus on Cologne and its iconic cathedral, Burmester aims to enhance the bid's international recognition. The final decision on the city or region to bid for the Paris Olympics, 2036 Olympics, 2040 Olympics, or 2044 Olympics will be made by the DOSB in autumn 2026.
