German President Steinmeier no longer against 2036 Games bid

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier can now imagine the Olympic Games being held in Germany in 2036 after all, broadcaster ARD reported on Sunday.

A spokesman for the president said in February that Steinmeier considered 2036 to be “historically problematic” for a German Olympic bid given it would come 100 years after the Berlin Games organized by the Nazis.

Sunday's report, citing the president's office, said that his concerns had not disappeared but he was now firmly convinced that all those involved would handle the date responsibly - if Germany makes a successful Olympic bid for that year.

Steinmeier told ARD: "We have great sports venues. We have a sports-mad population. I very much wish that after Munich 1972 the Olympic Games finally take place in Germany again."

Berlin, Cologne Rhine-Ruhr and Munich are battling to be Germany's bidder for 2036, 2040 or 2044. Hamburg residents voted against in a recent referendum.

The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) will decide in September which city will be the bidder and which year they will target.

DOSB chief executive Otto Fricke said he was pleased Steinmeier's change of stance "has now been explicitly clarified."

The 2028 Summer Games are in Los Angeles and Brisbane hosts the 2032 edition.

India and Qatar are among the favourites for 2036.