Berlin’s state parliament has officially greenlit the city’s bid to host the Olympic Games, aiming to celebrate or coincide with the 100th anniversary of the 1936 Games, which were marred by their Nazi staging.

During a 90-minute debate before Thursday’s vote, Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner emphasized, "Our bid is a genuine promise for future generations. We want positive development for Berlin."

Wegner’s CDU party received backing from the SPD and the far-right AfD for the Olympic initiative, initially presented last May at the historic stadium where Jesse Owens famously triumphed over Adolf Hitler in 1936. The city government has proposed a plan that predominantly utilizes existing sports facilities and iconic sites like the former Tempelhof airport park.

Financial projections estimate the total costs at €4.82 billion (£4.1 billion), with expected revenues of €5.24 billion (£4.5 billion), leading to a projected profit of approximately €420 million (£360 million), a quarter of which is designated for the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Wegner noted, "If we put on a summer fairy tale for the world, then it’s a chance for the world."

Despite this enthusiasm, the bid has faced criticism from members of the Left party and the Greens, who raised concerns about financial risks and labeled the proposals as "empty promises". Tobias Schulze from the Left party pointed out that recent Olympic Games have often exceeded their initial financial estimates significantly.

Notably, organizers have chosen not to conduct a public referendum on the bid. Berlin’s proposal is among four from Germany, including Munich, Hamburg, and North Rhine-Westphalia, that the German Olympic Sports Confederation will review on 26 September for IOC submission. Germany aims to host the Games in 2036, 2040, or 2044.