„Mein Opa, die Nazis und Olympia“ | Live-Podcast "Die Entscheidung"

In August 1936, Adolf Hitler opened the Olympic Games—a massive propaganda spectacle for the Nazis. This was made possible by a fateful decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1931 to keep the Games in Berlin—in a country that had already established concentration camps and was systematically excluding Jewish athletes. How does this decision continue to shape us today? And: Is it a good idea for Germany to bid again for the 2036 Games—100 years later?

An episode of the podcast*Die Entscheidung*explores these questions—through a very personal story: The grandfather of BR journalist and historian Astrid Freyeisen coached the rowing four that won Olympic gold in Berlin at the time. Like so many in Germany, he later refused to ever speak about the “dark side” of that competition—its role in supporting the Nazi regime. Astrid Freyeisen is revisiting this story—together with young female rowers who train today at her grandfather’s club. As part of a school project, the 11- and 12-year-olds are also researching the stories of Jewish rowers who had already been expelled from the Würzburg club at that time.

Together with host Jasmin Brock (Die Entscheidung), this research will be presented as a live podcast that evening—featuring reflections on the responsibility of sports, the culture of remembrance for a new generation, and discussing the Nazi past within families. Franziska Ott will accompany the evening on the trumpet.

Organized by Bayerischer Rundfunk in cooperation with the Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism.