Race for the Bid: Instagram Campaign as Wüst, Söder and Wegner Promote the Olympics
Wüst, Söder and Wegner used Instagram to back a German Olympic bid as the DOSB deadline approaches. The vote on the national candidate is set for September 26.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Three top state and city leaders used a short Instagram video to press their case for a German Olympic bid. The push comes as regions submit their final concept to the DOSB and the competition narrows after Hamburg dropped out.
Three German leaders made a short video to say they want the Olympics in Germany. It is like three captains cheering for the same team while a sports club decides which city or area gets the chance.
Analysis
What happened
North Rhine-Westphalia premier Hendrik Wüst, Bavaria premier Markus Söder and Berlin mayor Kai Wegner posted a joint Instagram video backing an Olympic and Paralympic bid for Germany. The clip lasted 22 seconds and was meant to make a clear political statement ahead of the next deadline in the process.
The bidding race
The regions must submit their final concept digitally to the German Olympic Sports Confederation, or DOSB, today. The DOSB will choose the German applicant on September 26. The race is for the Olympic Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044.
Berlin is bidding together with Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg. Munich and the Rhine-Ruhr region with Cologne are also still in the race. Hamburg has already withdrawn after a negative referendum result on Sunday.
Political and public support
The article says Munich received 66.4 percent support in its referendum, which was the first successful public vote on Summer Games anywhere in the world. The Rhine-Ruhr bid also won strong backing, with 66 percent in the host municipalities.
Berlin has strong international appeal as a tourism magnet, but the article notes a risk: because no referendum was held there for constitutional reasons, critics could still force a vote if Berlin wins the DOSB selection. A DOSB-commissioned Dimap poll still shows a majority in Berlin in favor overall, but support has fallen since March and the share opposing the Games has risen.
In short, the campaign is moving from public persuasion to a formal selection fight, with strong local backing in some regions but lingering political risk around Berlin.
Key points
- Wüst, Söder and Wegner posted a joint Instagram video backing an Olympic and Paralympic bid for Germany.
- The DOSB must receive the final regional concept today and will pick the German applicant on September 26.
- Berlin, Munich and Rhine-Ruhr are still in the race, while Hamburg has withdrawn after a negative referendum.
- Munich and Rhine-Ruhr both won strong public support in local votes.
- Berlin has strong appeal but also faces political risk because no referendum was held there.
If the joint push helps, it could show broad political unity behind the bid and strengthen Germany's case with the DOSB. Strong referendum results in Munich and Rhine-Ruhr suggest there is real local support to build on.
The race could still be hurt by political and procedural risks, especially around Berlin, where no referendum was held and opposition could try to force one later. Hamburg's exit also shows that public resistance can end a bid quickly.
