Since it was quite the topic here a few months back, readers might be interested to know that voters in Hamburg and Kiel are split on the 2024 Olympics, with “no” leading by a very slim margin (51.9%), and counting still going on. If that is the final result, it will be a surprise, as polls showed a clear majority in favor. However, the attacks in Paris and the costs of the refugee crisis seem to be damping down enthusiasm for the Games. They are projected to cost over 11.2 billion euros (about $11.9 billion) with a lot of urban development for Hamburg wrapped up in that price. Some background at http://www.dw.com/en/hamburg-votes-on-2024-olympics-bid/a-18882770
If you read German, there is a live blog from NDR up at https://www.ndr.de/sport/olympia/Ja-oder-Nein-Die-Olympia-Entscheidung-im-Live-Blog,referendum122.html
rcmauro says
Totals currently reported at 51.7% no, 48.3% yes. According to official results, 534 of 556 districts counted.
jcohn88 says
n/t
betsey says
rcmauro says
.
betsey says
Article about the “no” decision
jconway says
Democratic countries are tired of it’s pay to play ethos, it’s corruption, and it’s stringent requirements that thwart local laws and local voices. They are tired of white elephants and unsustainable projects, from either a fiscal or environmental standpoint. This is a strong challenge to the IOC.
For the 2022 games, it was left between two autocratic regimes. One in Almaty with picturesque snow and mountains, but uncertain financial stability; and the other in Beijing with no natural snow or mountains, but the fastest growing economy in the world. Neither a bastion of the human rights, freedom, and peaceful competition the Olympics are supposed to stand for. Only the IOC can save it from itself, unless the US attorney general has to get a mandate to clean up this international body too like it did with FIFA.
Christopher says
Presumably that would hurt the Olympics in the pocketbook. It would be an unfortunate irony if a wedge were driven between the Olympics and democracy since both have their origins in the same part of the world. Plus, I’d still like Boston to take and get another shot.
rcmauro says
Judging from the German blogs I was intermittently following, I think that NoBoston2024 would have been a better match for the Hamburg activists than No Boston Olympics, which was invited to participate in a conference in Hamburg. Jonathan, I’m sorry you and Robin did not get to visit Germany!
Also a reminder that the Boston example was probably less important for the Hamburg opposition than the local “Nolympias” in Munich and Berlin, which played a big role in opposing the bids from their cities.
I was initially not opposed to a Boston Olympics, and listened to many well-meaning people among the organizers and supporters. However, I was thoroughly educated on this matter by contributors to BMG, and now think there’s got to be a better way. The current practice of extorting money from host cities for the benefit of business interests is wasteful and counterproductive.
This “victory” post from Hamburg activist Dirk Seifert expresses it well:
“Long live sport and Hamburg! Thanks to all”
“No, this is not a decision against sport, as many headlines are now proclaiming. It is rather a decision against a system of officials who have put sport up for sale.”