Review of Speaker Series #20 - Olympia as a driver of development? (July 25)

Olympics in Munich? Between vision and responsibility
A review of the expert panel on Munich's Olympic bid

What can Munich learn from Paris? What does a possible bid for the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Olympic Games mean for urban development, transportation and society? The panel with top-class guests from politics, science and journalism discussed these questions intensively - critically, factually, but also visionary.

"The blueprint of Munich 72 is exactly what the critics of Olympic gigantomania actually want."
With this assessment Roman Deininger (Süddeutsche Zeitung) introduced the evening. He looked back on the 1972 Games, which he described as a "historic exception", in contrast to previous and subsequent editions. He raised the question of whether such an exceptional situation was possible again under today's economic, social and institutional conditions, particularly in relation to the International Olympic Committee.

Doubts about promises and economic benefits
Dr. Nadia Alaily-Mattar (TUM), an urban researcher, spoke in a differentiated manner about the real benefits of mega-events: "Costs and benefits can be estimated, but not proven, both before and after the event." She referred to sometimes unrealistic profitability forecasts, such as in the case of Brisbane 2032, where a benefit of 17.6 billion Australian dollars was forecast. These studies are often characterized by "optimism bias". She also takes a differentiated, socially critical view of the impact of major sporting events. "A key point is how costs and benefits are distributed in time, space and socially," she emphasized. Alaily-Mattar explained that some people will suffer immediately from construction measures, while others may only benefit from the resulting advantages years later or not at all.

Paris as a role model - but with a sense of proportion
A highlight of the evening was the report by the French Consul General Alexandre A. Vulic. He emphasized: "Paris 24 was an event like no other." He cited impressive figures: 6.6 million tourists, 2.7 billion euros in additional expenditure, a carbon footprint reduced by half. He particularly emphasized the change in mobility: "100% of the competition venues were accessible by public transport ... the transport offer was also expanded with 450 free shuttle buses." The cleaning of the Seine was also a symbolic legacy, he emphasized. Since July 5, it has been possible to swim again in three supervised areas, which is seen as a promise kept by the Games.

Traffic turnaround through the Olympics? Possible, but not automatically.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gebhard Wulfhorst (TUM) saw an Olympic bid as an opportunity to significantly advance key transport projects such as the second S-Bahn main line. In his view, such major events could significantly accelerate decision-making processes. At the same time, however, he warned against expecting too much. It is not enough to simply create additional lanes, he said, a comprehensive pricing strategy for the entire transport sector is required that does not just focus on motorized private transport.

Paris on two wheels - a living example of change

Ingvar Perovanovich reported on his documentary bicycle tour through European cycling cities, during which he was particularly impressed by Paris. There was no need to look specifically for prestige projects, he said, because regardless of the location, it was clear everywhere that the city was undergoing change. He described how central traffic axes had been transformed into wide cycle lanes. A large part of the road surface in Paris is now dedicated to cycling. Perovanovich was convinced that the consistent expansion of cycling infrastructure would lead directly to increased use.

Conclusion: Between feasibility and courage
The panel made it clear that an Olympic bid is not a sure-fire success. Although it offers potential for progress in areas such as infrastructure, urban development and climate policy, it also harbors considerable risks if it is not designed in a balanced and responsible manner. According to Dr. Alaily-Mattar, it is therefore crucial to carefully consider in advance "what we want to achieve with the bid that we are otherwise unable to achieve."