One step closer to the Olympics: On Monday, January 19, the "KölnRheinRuhr" bid campaign to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in North Rhine-Westphalia was officially launched.

Aachen: Center of equestrian sport
A total of 17 cities on the Rhine and Ruhr are jointly bidding to host the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044. In addition to soccer, equestrian sport in particular is to find its venue in Aachen.

The dressage rider and most successful German Olympian, Isabell Werth, supports the application: "The city of Aachen has stood for international equestrian sport at the highest level for decades. With the CHIO, a world-class show regularly takes place here; only the Olympic and Paralympic Games would surpass this. Being able to experience the biggest sporting event in my own home state would be of great importance to me. This makes me all the more convinced by the present concept for CologneRhineRuhr, and I look forward to being able to represent it publicly on a regular basis in the future."

The people of North Rhine-Westphalia have the bid in their hands
However, the four million people of North Rhine-Westphalia can first decide on the Olympic future of the state: North Rhine-Westphalia is the only bidding region to hold referendums in all municipalities involved in the concept. These transfer the decision from the city council to the population (Section 26 of the NRW Municipal Code). This gives the region the largest possible direct-democratic basis in the application process. No other applicant involves more people.

The referendum in Aachen must first be approved by the city council. The vote will take place at the next city council meeting on January 28. The referendums are to take place throughout North Rhine-Westphalia on April 19.

"Our cities. Our Games": The launch of the campaign
In order to provide the people of North Rhine-Westphalia with the best possible information in the run-up to the council decision, a broad-based campaignwas launched on Monday, January 19, under the slogan "Our cities. Our Games", a broad-based campaign was launched on Monday, January 19. With this campaign, the 17 participating municipalities, together with the state government, the NRW State Sports Association and the NRW Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association, athletes and sports associations, want to campaign for a positive vote in the referendum. In addition to Isabell Werth, the prominent supporters of the CologneRhineRuhr bid include: the German para-athlete of the decade Markus Rehm, the Olympic champion in epee fencing and top sports official Britta Heidemann, the soccer world champion Christoph Kramer, the CEO of Deutz AG and rowing world champion Sebastian Schulte as well as the former Minister President and former Federal Minister of Finance Peer Steinbrück. They will all play an active role in North Rhine-Westphalia's bid and provide important impetus with their respective experience and expertise.

Minister President Hendrik Wüst presented the content of the campaign together with the Lord Mayor of the City of Cologne Thorsten Burmester in Cologne's Lanxess Arena. Minister President Hendrik Wüst: "North Rhine-Westphalia wants games for everyone. North Rhine-Westphalia is ready. With KölnRheinRuhr, we are bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the people. North Rhine-Westphalia is offering Germany and the world the most compact, sustainable and spectacular Games with record crowds in front of record backdrops. We offer the athletes the biggest stage for the greatest moment of their careers."

Olympics in Germany?
The final decision on a German bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be made on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at an extraordinary general meeting of the DOSB. Should Berlin prevail in the bidding process, equestrian sport would also take place in Aachen.

More information
Isabell Werth is the most successful dressage rider in the world and Germany's most successful Olympian. With the team victory in Paris 2024, she took her tally to a total of eight Olympic gold medals and six silver medals at a total of seven different Olympic Games. She is an exceptional personality in top international sport. Isabell Werth lives and works in Rheinberg on the Lower Rhine, where she runs a competition and training stable.

The venues at a glance:

• Aachen - soccer, equestrian sport | para dressage
• Bochum - Football, Modern Pentathlon
• Dortmund - soccer, handball
• Duisburg - Canoe Racing, Rowing, Sport Climbing | Para Canoeing, Para Rowing, Para Sport Climbing
• Düsseldorf - 3x3 basketball, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, fencing, handball, judo, wrestling, table tennis, triathlon, volleyball, goalball, Para badminton, Para boccia, Para judo, Para taekwondo, Para table tennis, Para triathlon, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing
• Essen - boxing, soccer, weightlifting, cycling (BMX freestyle & racing), shooting | para powerlifting, para sports shooting, sitting volleyball
• Gelsenkirchen - Swimming | Para Swimming
• Krefeld - wheelchair rugby, taekwondo
• Kiel/Warnemünde - Sailing
• Cologne - athletics 7-a-side rugby, archery, soccer, marathon swimming, cycling (track cycling), cycling (road), tennis, gymnastics | para archery para athletics, para cycling (track), para cycling (road), wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair tennis, sitting volleyball
• Leverkusen - Soccer
• Markkleeberg (Saxony) - Canoe slalom
• Mönchengladbach - Hockey
• Monheim am Rhein - Skateboarding
• Oberhausen - Volleyball
• Pulheim - Golf
• Recklinghausen / Herten- Cycling (mountain biking)
• Wuppertal - soccer, water polo

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