IOC president meets potential German Olympic bidders in Aachen

FILE PHOTO - International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry, President of the speaks to media representatives before the conclusion of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. Peter Kneffel/dpa Olympics chief Kirsty Coventry met representatives of Germany's Olympic bid contenders on the sidelines of the equestrian world championships in Aachen on Saturday, but their plans to host the Games were not discussed. The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) will decide on September 26 whether Berlin, Munich or Cologne Rhine Ruhr should be Germany's bidder for either the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Summer Olympics. Whichever bid is chosen will face tough competition from the likes of Qatar and India. The International Olympic Committee president spoke with North Rhine-Westphalia state premier Hendrik Wüst, Bavaria's interior minister Joachim Herrmann and Berlin's governing mayor Kai Wegner. "Especially in sport, you have to stay sporting," Wüst told reporters after the meeting. "That is why we also invited our colleagues from Bavaria and Berlin. I think it is simply the right thing to do." Wüst said everyone wanted to bring the Olympic Games to Germany "and everyone makes the best offer they can. I think ours is objectively the best, no question. But the others believe that about their offers too." Wüst said they had not spoken with the IOC president at all "about the Olympic bids" but about topics such as sports development. Former top swimmer Coventry was in Aachen privately. The Zimbabwean also met representatives from some of Germany's top sports federations and watched an individual dressage final.