Berlin quits Germany's Olympic race as Munich and Cologne await vote

Berlin has withdrawn from the race to be Germany's bidder to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the city's mayor said on Thursday.

The decision comes two days before the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) meets to vote on Germany's candidate to bid for the Olympics in 2036, 2040 or 2044. Only Munich and the Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr concept now remain in contention and the preferred bid will face stiff competition from across the globe.

Berlin's chances were seen as slim after the Left party came top in Sunday's regional election in the German capital.

The Left's Elif Eralp, who is poised to become the city's next mayor, said she had "made it very clear" that she considers the Olympic bid "a waste of taxpayer money." The Left's victory was a vote against the Olympics, she said.

Berlin was also behind Munich and the Cologne-based Rhine-Ruhr campaign after DOSB officials evaluated the rival bids on Tuesday ahead of Saturday's confederation vote.

Munich received 87 out of 100 points and Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr 85, with both rated "very good." Berlin scored 74.6 points, earning a "good" rating.

Current Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner, Berlin Senator for the Interior Iris Spranger and the city's Olympic Commissioner Kaweh Niroomand held a press conference to announce the city was pulling out of the running.

"Today is a sad day for Berlin. The Olympic and Paralympic Games would have been a great chance for Berlin and Eastern Germany," Wegner said, adding that he had sought talks with the Left over the bid but had been rebuffed.

"Unfortunately, our opportunity was taken away. The plug has been pulled."

Wegner is from the Christian Democrats, who finished a distant second in Sunday's election, and is stepping down anyway.

Spranger added, "For me, it is the most dreadful morning I have ever had to experience at a press conference."

'Downright cheeky'

Bid sources had told dpa on Wednesday that a withdrawal was coming.

DOSB president Thomas Weikert thanked Berlin for "a major sign of fairness and respect" by agreeing to exit the race. 

"It underlines that those responsible in the capital are above all focused on finally bringing the Games back to Germany, regardless of the host venue," he said in a statement.

Under the concept "Berlin+," the city had been cooperating with the Eastern German states of Brandenburg, Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on an Olympic bid.

Brandenburg's Sports Minister Gordon Hoffmann expressed his disappointment at the withdrawal.

"The Olympic and Paralympic Games could have provided important impetus for sport, for sports enthusiasts of all ages and for the development of the Berlin-Brandenburg region," he said.

Eralp's stance has been welcomed by some Berliners on social media but has also triggered sharp criticism, including from Bob Hanning, managing director of handball team Füchse Berlin.

"She isn't even in office yet. And to make a statement like that is despicable. It's downright cheeky," he said.

Berlin did not hold a referendum about a potential Olympic bid and opinion polls were mixed. It previously bid to host in 2000 but lost out to Sydney. The German capital held the 1936 Olympics under Nazi rule. 

Munich and the Rhine-Ruhr area in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia did hold successful plebiscites. Hamburg pulled out after its citizens voted against a bid.

The last Olympics in Germany were in Munich in 1972.