March 2025

As an Olympic City, how does Munich activate and value its Olympic legacy?

For more than 50 years since the Olympic Games in 1972, Munich has been a dazzling example of how to preserve as well as to keep alive and activate its Olympic legacy. Not only that the Olympic Park has become just a beautiful leisure area the whole year through, both for residents and tourists – the facilities of the Summer Games are still in high demand use: above all the Olympic Stadium and the Olympic Hall which nowadays are mostly sold-out venues both for international sports championships and cultural events like concerts and festivals. One of the big highlights in the recent past was in 2022 when Munich celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Olympic Games by hosting the European Championships: an outstanding event with more than 4,000 athletes from 50 nations, competing for 176 gold medals in nine sports. Also, the Olympic Village has developed as an outstanding example of Olympic infrastructure being converted into a sustainable long-term use by the city. As a listed ensemble the Olympic Park is protected by monument conservation and is still in the application process of gaining the status of a UNESCO World Heritage. In order to preserve the original character of the unique landscape architecture designed for the Olympic Games, the City of Munich in 2013 developed a park maintenance act – to outline strict rules for keeping the interventions in the ensemble as minimal as possible. Furthermore in 2015 the City published a design manual for the Olympic Park. The 136 pages present clear guidelines for the conservation, the upkeep and the development in architecture and landscape as well as in visual communication, set-up and signposting. It would be a great honour to once again host Olympic Summer Games in the future, therefore we are in close consultations with all the responsible stakeholders in our aim to bid for another Olympic dream to come true. Of course, besides all the successful and joyful stories, the City of Munich has never forgotten the dark day of September 5 – the horrible attack on the Israeli delegation in the Olympic Village in 1972 causing the death of eleven hostages. With an eternal memorial in the Olympic Park and annual memorial events organized by the General Consulate of Israel Munich is commemorating the victims forever, now and in the generations to come. 

A true sport city, Munich hosts major sports events and has also developed a wide range of grassroots programmes. How does the city combine elite sports and events with a sports for all policy? Are there synergies between these two axes?

The City of Munich regularly hosts major sporting events while also strongly promoting grassroots sports. The synergy between the two is a key priority for the Department of Education and Sports. In fact, grassroots sports benefit significantly from large-scale events – for instance, there is measurable evidence that more children and young people join local clubs after such events.
Munich often complements major sporting events with accompanying programs that emphasize community and club sports – most recently seen with the “Fair Play Zone” during UEFA EURO 2024. As a city with a deep commitment to sports, we see it as our responsibility to provide the best possible conditions for all types of sporting activities, whether informal or organized. Munich’s appeal as a host city for major events is further demonstrated by its selection to stage the International German Gymnastics Festival in 2029 – the largest mass sports event in the world.
The connection between professional and grassroots sports is also evident in our collaboration with the NFL. As part of hosting professional games, Munich has made significant investments in community sports, including developing training programs for teachers in non-contact Flag Football and creating dedicated Flag Football areas in city sports facilities. These efforts have already paid off: a student team from a municipal high school recently won the NFL Flag Tournament – led by a sports teacher who had participated in the city’s Flag Football training program at the dedicated campus in Riem.

The Olympic Park is 100% city owned. In 2024, the Olympic Park broke the visitors record with 5.3 million visitors. How do you explain the success of this model?

The figures were remarkable indeed. They prove the successful concept in the long-term use of the Olympic facilities. As mentioned it is the unique variety of so many different events attracting millions of local and international guests to the Olympic Park each year: if you want to see thrilling sport events or amazing concerts of world class artists or if you just want to have a day off and go for a picnic on the shore of the Olympic Lake. As an outstanding architectural landmark with the world famous tent roof the place has become one of the City’s main sightseeing attractions over the past five decades. It is a place to go to the whole year round, with many events granting free admission, just to name the action sport festival Munich Mash with international top stars in skateboard, Wakeboard or BMX Bike. And if you want to get the atmosphere of a sold-out open air concert of a superstar in the Olympic Stadium, just settle down on the Olympic Hill, peer into the open arena, listen to the music and enjoy the mood of a beautiful summer evening. To sum it up: The Olympic Park is a masterpiece of how to preserve its unique heritage as well as to fill the place with enthusiasm, activities, passion and bursting energy. The Olympic Park can do it all. 

How does the City of Munich envision the future of the Olympic Games? 

Future Olympic and Paralympic Games must integrate environmental, social, and economic aspects even more than before, while placing a strong emphasis on inspiring grassroots sports and engaging the entire population. Sustainability should play a central role, guided by measurable criteria. The European Championships 2022 in Munich demonstrated how an international sporting event can successfully balance world-class competition with a strong focus on sustainability.
It is now widely accepted that a city should not have to significantly adapt to the Olympic Games – instead, the Games should adapt to the city. Paris has recently exemplified this approach, and we will take the same stance in any future bid for Munich. We see great potential in the unifying spirit of the Games – bringing together athletes and spectators, visitors and locals alike.

As this newsletter is dedicated to women, in conjunction with the International Women’s Day, has Munich initiated specific activities related to women & sport on this occasion?

The City of Munich is deeply committed to promoting women’s and girls’ participation in sports through a multifaceted approach. As part of its municipal sports development strategy, Munich systematically evaluates whether sporting opportunities are equally accessible and appealing to both girls and boys, women and men. Additionally, the city ensures that its sports infrastructure is designed in a way that enables all residents to find suitable spaces for athletic engagement. A key consideration in this process is the sustainable and equitable management of sports facilities, ensuring their accessibility and usability for all genders.
Furthermore, Munich’s municipal leisure sports program includes dedicated courses specifically tailored for women, such as fitness programs and “Female Moves,” fostering an environment where women can engage in sports in a setting designed to meet their needs.