The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) "has decided the country will bid on hosting the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics," according to the BAYERISCHER RUNDFUNK. Either Germany's capital, Berlin, or Hamburg "would host the Games should the German bid be successful." The DOSB exec board members "voted unanimously in favor of bidding to host the 2024 Games on Monday." The members also decided "to keep the door open for a potential bid for the 2028 Olympics should the 2024 bid fail." DOSB President Alfons Hörmann: "We are utterly convinced that this presents a great opportunity for both a city and German sports in general. The Olympic project can and will be good for the country" (BR, 10/28). The AP reported there "have been no other official candidates for the 2024 Olympics until now," although the U.S. is among the countries expected to lodge a bid. The host will be chosen by the IOC in '17. Istanbul, Rome, Paris and Doha, Qatar, "have been mentioned as possible bidders."
Germany last hosted the Summer Olympics in '72 in Munich, "overshadowed by a deadly attack on Israeli athletes by Palestinian gunmen." Still, the final German bid "runs the risk of being rejected by the residents." Both Berlin and Hamburg "plan referendums, once it is known which of the two will be the candidate" (AP, 10/28).