* Apartments for 9,000 people in the Science City
* Acceleration of infrastructure measures
* Sustainable investments for the entire city
* Financial support from the federal government promised
The BFW Landesverband Nord, the Immobilienverband Deutschland (IVD) Nord and the Association of North German Housing Companies (VNW) are in favour of the Hanseatic city’s bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and see considerable opportunities for urban development, housing construction and infrastructure. Financial resources from the federal government are already available for this purpose. At the same time, the associations emphasise that important conditions still need to be created for successful implementation.
The federal government has pledged to support the hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Germany. Now Hamburg is in competition with the other German bids: Berlin, Munich and the Rhine-Ruhr region. A successful application would lead to funding flowing into the Hanseatic city and having a long-term effect here.
A central element of the Olympic bid is the Olympic Village, which is to be built in the Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld. A new residential quarter is planned there anyway. Through the Games, this project could be realized much faster. After the Games, housing for around 9,000 people would remain – with a high proportion of subsidized apartments.
The housing industry associations also expect positive effects from the hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the area of infrastructure. The urgently needed expansion of public transport could be accelerated and further developed. This would improve mobility throughout the city even beyond the Games.
The people of Hamburg decide on the application themselves. The referendum will take place on 31 May 2026. In advance, there is the possibility to participate by postal vote. The documents for this will be sent out yesterday.
Kay Brahmst, Chairman of the BFW Regional Association North: “In order to relieve the housing market and keep rents stable, we need one thing above all: more housing construction. The Olympic and Paralympic Games can provide an important impetus for this – through accelerated planning processes, new quarters and additional funding from the federal government. We should take advantage of this opportunity.”
Carl-Christian Franzen, Deputy Chairman of the German Real Estate Association IVD Region North (IVD Nord) for Hamburg: “An Olympic bid in Hamburg – if it is planned, financed and reused in an economically sound manner – can create considerable opportunities for the city, the residents and the real estate industry. Image gains, improved infrastructure and urban development as well as the creation of urgently needed housing would be of great benefit to citizens. However, these opportunities for Hamburg do not arise automatically. They depend on: clean cost management, fast approval policy, real reuse, social balance (rents/housing) and successful implementation of infrastructure projects.”
Andreas Breitner, Director of the Association of North German Housing Companies (VNW): “The Olympic Games would be a gain for the city. However, people must also benefit from it. An attractive and more liveable city in itself is not a win for everyone, because more attractiveness can make it more expensive. So it’s about looking at the ‘whole city’. In addition to the construction of affordable housing, it is about a sustainable infrastructure – starting with schools, daycare centers and an efficient public transport system. The Olympic Games in Hamburg must be both a sporting event and the start of a major urban development project.”
