German Olympic Bid: Munich Enters the Race as a Candidate Host City for the 20XX Games; Equestrian Events Planned at Three Venues

The Olympic equestrian competitions will take place at venues similar to those used in 1972, the last time the Olympic Games were held in Germany. According to the plan that prevailed over the Rhine-Ruhr region’s bid, dressage is to take place in front of the Baroque Nymphenburg Palace in northern Munich. It was there in 1972 that Liselott Linsenhoff became the first woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal. At that time, she rode the stallion Piaff. The Piaff Promotion Award is named after him.

Nymphenburg Palace may not quite measure up to the Palace of Versailles. However, the dressage competitions will actually take place in front of the palace’s main entrance. This creates a different, more intimate atmosphere. Nymphenburg is considered one of the most famous and one of the largest palaces in Germany. More than 300,000 visitors come to see the magnificent palace each year. In addition, millions flock to the park every year—188 hectares of which lie within the palace walls alone. The park covers a total area of just over 220 hectares. The Paralympics would also be held here.

Show Jumping at the Olympics in Munich-Riem

According to the bid concept, the show jumping competitions are to be held in Munich-Riem, where the Bavarian Equestrian Federation is based. The venue is spacious and has extensive experience hosting events. Many equestrian events take place here every year. For example, “Pferd International,” which is one of the few dressage tournaments in Germany held at the five-star level and consistently attracts a strong field in show jumping as well. The infrastructure for the horses is therefore largely in place. The Riem Olympic Equestrian Center is also the venue for the DSP licensing competition every January, among other events.

In addition, the horse racing track is located right next door. This means there is even more “horse-related infrastructure” available, which underscores the sustainable nature of the bid. An equine clinic is also within easy reach in Riem. Major investments are expected only for the grandstands.

At a gallop through the English Garden

The eventing competition will hold its centerpiece—the cross-country course—in the English Garden. This means the cross-country ride will truly take place in the heart of the Bavarian capital. A total of four cities or regions in Germany had entered the race with bid proposals. After a majority of Hamburg’s population voted against hosting the Olympic Games, the Hanseatic city was ruled out as a potential Olympic host city as early as the spring.

In Berlin, the decision was made to pull the plug after an internal preliminary evaluation showed that Berlin’s proposal ranked well behind the two bids from Munich and the Rhine-Ruhr region.

While Munich now has reason to celebrate, the mood among the candidates from North Rhine-Westphalia is likely to be less upbeat. While Munich had focused on hosting the Olympic Games with short travel distances and extensive infrastructure—much of which is still in working order from the 1972 Games—the Rhine-Ruhr region had advocated for a decentralized Games format. The organizing team led by IOC member Michael Mronz had estimated that this approach would allow them to welcome up to 17 million live visitors across a wide variety of venues. According to the plan, equestrian events were to have taken place entirely at a venue equipped to handle such major events: the CHIO grounds in Aachen.

It has not yet been determined in which year the Games will take place in Munich. However, since the bid was not for a specific year but for three Games—namely, 2036, 2040, or 2044—it is safe to assume that the Olympic Games will definitely be held in Munich, Germany, on one of those three dates.