Die Olympia-Bewerbung „KölnRheinRuhr“ - ein Informationsabend vor dem Bürgerentscheid in Köln

The decision facing the people of Cologne is no small one: should Cologne bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games as a "Leading City" together with 16 other cities on the Rhine and Ruhr - possibly as early as 2036, at the latest in 2044? On April 19, around four million people in North Rhine-Westphalia will vote on this in a referendum.

The ballot papers for the referendum will be in mailboxes in Cologne from mid-March. So that all interested Cologne residents can cast their ballots as informed as possible, the editorial team of the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" invites you to a discussion evening at the Cologne Sports and Olympic Museum on March 11 from 7 p.m. - with room for many questions.

What is behind the bid concept developed by the NRW State Chancellery? Which sports facilities are to be used - and what will happen to them after the Games? Niklas Börger, head of the Olympic project group in the NRW State Chancellery, will present the project. Torsten Burmester, Lord Mayor of the City of Cologne, and Britta Heidemann, former Olympic fencing champion, will also be on the podium.

In order for the NRW bid to enter the international race, it would first have to prevail against the three German competitors Munich, Berlin and Hamburg. In the fall, the German Olympic Sports Confederation will decide which German city or region it wants to submit a bid to the International Olympic Committee. In the voting process in Munich, the citizens voted clearly in favor of hosting the Games. A "no" from Cologne or Rhine-Ruhr would be the end for the local bid, a strong "yes" would give it a strong tailwind.

The information evening is made possible by the kind support of Sparkasse Köln-Bonn and a cooperation with the German Sport & Olympics Museum Cologne.

Free choice of seats.