German athletics stars hope for Munich home worlds in 2029

German athletics stars hope that the country will host the world championships in 2029 or 2031 in Munich to give them an opportunity to perform in front of a home crowd.

"Munich 2029 would, of course, be a dream. That would be really cool," world and European decathlon champion Leo Neugebauer said after Sunday's ISTAF meet in Berlin.

"I think athletics is generally held in high esteem in Germany. And now I have the feeling that it is becoming more and more."

Decathlon rival Niklas Kaul also hopes to get a chance to return to Munich's Olympic Stadium, where he became European champion in 2022, in three years.

"Of course I would very, very much wish for Munich 2029 because I would be at an age (of 31) where I could still do it," Kaul said.

"Returning to the Olympic Stadium where I became European champion would be just outstanding."

Germany hosted the athletics worlds 1993 in Stuttgart and again 2009 in Berlin where Jamaican legend Usain Bolt set the still standing 100 and 200 metres world records.

Munich's rivals include 2017 hosts London and Nairobi, with the Kenyan capital aiming to stage the big event in Africa for the first time.

Governing body World Athletics is expected to choose the 2029 host city in September.

Gina Lückenkemper, who won two sprint golds in the Munich stadium at the Euros in 2022, said she had played an active role in the bid.

"I did a lot for this bid and held a 10-minute speech before the World Athletics commission because I definitely support having the world championships in Germany again,"  she said. 

Lückenkemper, who will be 32 in 2029, vowed "to do everything to be on the track once more" if Munich is chosen.