Update on 2 April - this was of course our April Fool's joke.
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The municipality of Rüdersdorf near Berlin will propose a bid for the 2036 or 2040 Summer Olympics to the municipal council and then submit a bid to the National Olympic Committee (NOC).
The aim is to organise the most sustainable Olympic Games ever - a recyclable one-way Olympic stadium is to be built thanks to opencast limestone mining. In the spirit of the stadiums in ancient Athens, the Olympic stadium is to be built in the coming years in what is still an active limestone quarry. The intention is to approach CEMEX Deutschland AG, the current operator of the open-cast limestone mine, and jointly agree on how a stadium can be built in the open-cast mine using targeted blasting. Due to climate change, it is assumed that the construction of a roof will not be necessary as, statistically speaking, it will no longer rain in July. It would also be the first time that an Olympic stadium would be located below sea level. It is hoped that the excellent oxygen saturation at the bottom of the pit will lead to many world records.
For the operator, it is expected that there will only be a 2-month downtime for the duration of the games and the immediate preparation and follow-up work. This time can be used for necessary repair and maintenance work. After the Olympic flame has gone out, the stadium will be blown away and turned into cement.
The existing infrastructure should be used for other competitions. Examples include the regatta course on the Kalksee lake, the Hennickendorf lido for open water swimming, the forest paths around the municipality for mountain bike competitions and the existing facilities of the shooting club. The cultural centre could also be upgraded for competitions, as the renovation work is only just beginning. It would be ideal for badminton, breaking, karate, judo, trampolining or gymnastics in a special ambience. The multifunctional hall at Ostbahnhof, for example, could be used for particularly popular competitions if Berlin were prepared to act as a junior partner to the municipality.
The idea was born out of the current euphoria surrounding the Special Olympics, in which the municipality will be the host town. Mayor Sabine Löser explains: "Ever since the opening of the national Special Olympics at the Alte Försterei last year, it was clear to me and my team that we absolutely wanted to have the Olympic Games in our municipality. Since then, we have been working on the concept, which will be presented at the next municipal council meeting. In June, the Olympic flame of the Special Olympics will be carried through our community. We would like to submit the first expression of interest to the NOK by then at the latest and show together with the local people: Rüdersdorf is on fire for the Olympics!" Löser also mentions the excellent infrastructure: "The national training centre in Kienbaum is just around the corner and our health centre with its university and rehabilitation clinic offers excellent conditions for preparing for and following up on the competition."