"Mini-Olympics" arouses desires: is Munich ready for an application?

Created: 08/19/2022, 10:41 am

By: Gunter Klein

50 years later: The Olympic Stadium and the surrounding park still exude their charm even today.

We are overwhelmed!

It's just terrific how the championships are accepted.

© Championships

The European Championships are well received by the people of Munich.

Should the city now apply for the Olympics?

The politicians are skeptical.

Munich – “Mini-Olympics” – this term for the European Championships was established when it was held for the second time.

And at all the competition venues, the athletes are asked whether it's not time for the Olympic Games to come to Germany again.

And if the people of Munich were to vote now, there might be a majority for a strong application, unlike in previous referendums.

"We are overwhelmed!

It's just terrific how the championships are accepted," said Marion Schöne, Managing Director of the Olympic Park.

According to her statement, almost 900,000 people were moved in the first week.

But are the Championship and Olympic formats comparable at all?

program

Olympia is larger on the one hand (33 sports beats nine) but smaller within the disciplines.

At European Championships, the divisions live out.

Example rowing: There were 24 decisions at the European Championships, only 14 boat classes are Olympic.

Or marathon: since team medals were also run for, six starters per nation were allowed.

The timing is similar for major events: the international professional association takes over the management and uses a fixed layout for the competition days.

Sporty level

Of course it's higher at the Olympics, the qualification standards are often demanding - and the stars come from all over the world, not just from one continent.

In some sports, a European championship is only a side program.

appearance

The visual communication of "Munich 2022" is strongly based on the Olympic standard.

Colours, lettering, emblems - the visitor notices immediately when he is in an official area.

However, the landscape of the presenting sponsors at the Olympics is completely different: the big international brands dominate there (often from countries that don't take democracy so seriously) and what is competing is not allowed - in Munich, on the other hand, local and regional brands came companies to the train, smaller caterers can also earn money.

Ads are quite present at the European Championships, but are not found to be disruptive.

Access

Olympic venues are high-security areas - with good reason after the attacks in Munich in 1972 and Atlanta in 1996. One of the largest stages in the world (people really don't have anything else on their mind for two weeks when games are on) is at high risk.

At the Olympics, journalists lose time several times a day in security checks, which are no different from those at airports.

In Munich you are waved through these days, paying visitors are given a look into their backpacks and bags, but there is no body check with palpation.

If the Olympics were in Munich again, access to the park would probably be regulated and not open.

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supporting program

Many people are currently flocking to the Olympic Park for the concerts.

At the games, the cultural offer would be more manageable - because people should go to the sports facilities.

What would not be possible at the Olympics: Farewell ceremonies like those for gymnast Kim Bui and decathlete Arthur Abele - the host country should not put itself in the foreground;

the international protocol does not provide for this.

Nevertheless: Olympic Games are always able to develop a special magic.

Barcelona 1992, Sydney 2000, London 2012 – there are outstanding examples that the Olympic ideal is not dead after all.

contacts

In Munich, the athletes live in hotels, there is no village of their own.

There is hardly any exchange between nations, most of them only experienced other competitions in the live stream and left quickly after their assignment.

Olympia clearly offers more, the athletes stay longer, the accommodation costs are cheaper.

Outstanding in Munich: the proximity that the participants and starters allowed.

They mingled with the people, sat on beer benches.

However, very few of them are superstars who would annoy too much publicity.

In the games, on the other hand, there are greats like NBA or tennis professionals who prefer to isolate themselves.

The European Championships are less complicated in many ways - because they can afford it.