A referendum on a future Olympic bid by the city of Hamburg started on Sunday, with results expected late in the day.
Around 1.3 million people from the age of 16 can vote whether they want Hamburg to bid for the Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044 or not. Around 40% of those eligible have cast their ballot in a postal vote.
Hamburg is competing with Munich, Berlin and a Cologne-led Rhine-Ruhr region bid to become the German candidate. The decision on who will bid and for which year will be made by the German Olympic Sports Confederation on September 26.
Munich’s bid was backed by a 66.4% majority in a referendum and Colgne/Rhine-Ruhr by 66%. In Berlin, the local parliament approved the bid.
In 2015, Hamburg’s plan to bid for the 2024 Olympics was stopped in a referendum.
Supporters of the latest effort highlight the use of existing venues, an expected profit and an important boost for the city’s infrastructure. Critics point out uncertainties about costs and that the money should be spent for more pressing projects.
The unofficial final result is expected by 10pm (2000 GMT).
Germany hosted summer Olympics 1936 in Berlin and 1972 in Munich.
