CDU leader regrets Hamburg's rejection of Olympic Games bid

Hamburg's bid to host the Olympic Games has been dealt a significant blow after a referendum saw residents vote against the proposal. Dennis Thering, the leader of the CDU party in the city, voiced his strong disappointment, lamenting the loss of a "once-in-a-century chance."

“

Thus a once-in-a-century chance is lost – a chance for new momentum, international visibility, and urgently needed investments to secure our prosperity for future generations.

Thering argued that hosting the Games would have provided a much-needed boost to the city's economy, enhanced its international profile, and spurred crucial investments for future prosperity. He stated that the result, while needing to be accepted, was not entirely surprising given the perceived lack of unified support from the governing parties.

“

We fought as the CDU for a different result.

The CDU was the only opposition party in the city parliament to advocate for the Olympic bid. Thering pointed out that this referendum marks the second public vote defeat for Mayor Peter Tschentscher's administration within a year, following a previous climate-related decision. He suggested that the mayor and his coalition had failed to effectively communicate the potential benefits of an Olympic bid to the citizens of Hamburg.

“

This was evidently not desired by the SPD and the Greens, so support for the Olympics remained piecemeal.