Live ticker: Public participation in the Olympics in Hamburg

In November 2025, the City of Hamburg will launch the Citizens’ Dialogue on the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We at Stadtmanufaktur have designed the three dialog formats for citizen participation – and are on site at all events. Our tasks: to organize, moderate and facilitate open, critical and inclusive dialogue.

Here in the magazine, we share our impressions of a total of fifteen events across the city. Our report on these three dialog formatsgrows with each week:

• Launch event at HafenCity University Hamburg
• Participation dialogs in all seven Hamburg districts
• Stakeholder events on business, culture and co.

In addition to the live events, Hamburg residents can take part in an online survey and contribute their wishes and ideas.

10 a.m. in Hamburg: it’s November 1, 2025, fog and rain are in the air. Our hometown is showing its most beautiful slippery weather. Our team arrives at HafenCity University right on time and gets its bearings between sound check and set-up. The information market of the Ministry of the Interior and Sport is already being set up in the foyer , while Horst Lange from the Visual Facilitators is setting up right next to the stage in the auditorium. He will be documenting the day today with graphic recording.

We from Stadtmanufaktur are on site with ten experts. The event professionals from Inferno Events have the technology and organization under control. Reassuring: our network works. While project manager Julia Staron whizzes through the rooms, project manager Isabell Köster briefs the Stadtmanufaktur team. Who moderates the three dialog zones, who takes care of the direction, who stands at the Resonanzia wish and theme tree?

Then Isabell is already gone again. Together with Stadtmanufaktur Managing Director Thorsten Kausch, she briefs the moderation duo of the day: Anke Harnack and Michel Abdollahi. The first Hamburg residents arrive, bustle around in the foyer and wander curiously from station to station. The program starts right on time at 12 noon. Hamburg’s public participation in the bidding process begins.

Keynotes and interviews, discussion and moderation will alternate on stage: Steffen Rülke, head of the Hamburg bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, will present the Hamburg+ bid concept, answer questions on sustainability, security and financing, the IOC and the motives behind the bid.

Also on stage: top Hamburg athletes such as volleyball pros Clemens Wickler and Nils Ehlers (silver medal in Paris 2024) and multiple Paralympics winner Edina Müller. They talk about the “fascination of the Olympics” and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris and London. And they give Hamburg’s Olympic project group tips for better and more sustainable Games.

Between the stage program, we will discuss the Olympic bid in three dialogue zones on topics such as “Social City, Participation and Inclusion”, “Climate, Sustainability & Mobility” and “Social Cohesion”. More than 500 Hamburg citizens are on site during the day, thinking and discussing with us, coming and going. Our open event format works.

• Respectful dialog with citizens: The conversations show genuine interest in the details of the bid, justified criticism is voiced and reflected upon together. Here and there, cautious anticipation of an Olympic Games in Hamburg bubbles up.
• The personal accounts of Hamburg’s top athletes: They are the ones who bring the Olympics and Paralympics to life and make them tangible. And with their stories, they show how popular sport and elite sport strengthen each other.
• The vocal performance by the famous Hamburg Goldkehlchen: From the very first song, the participants and team crowded onto the stage. Within seconds, the dialog turned into a concert. (Singing along is encouraged!)
• The fantastic collaboration within the team and with our network: the planning time before the kick-off event was short and the program varied. It took a lot of commitment and creativity from everyone involved.

Therefore: Many thanks to the Olympic project group of the Ministry of the Interior and Sport, to the professionals from Inferno Events and to all the artists, speakers and citizens who made this kick-off event a success.

“Moin Moin Hamburg”. It’s Monday and our new favorite song by Hamburg’s Goldkehlchen has been resonating in our ears since Saturday. The kick-off event was a success and we ask ourselves: will our concept for the participation dialogs in Hamburg’s districts also work? We’ll find out tonight in Wandsbek.

Our team meets around 80 citizens at the Forum Alstertal in Wandsbek. This time, it’s not a moderation duo that leads through the event, but our Stadtmanufaktur Managing Director Thorsten Kausch. The Thomas Ritzenhoff, District Head of Wandsbek, will welcome the audience, followed by an interview with Björn Lengwenus. As head of the Alter Teichweg primary and district school, he focuses on the topics of educational equality and “inclusion as an inalienable human right” – also in the discussion about the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Hamburg.

Steffen Rülke, head of the Hamburg Olympic project group, presents the Hamburg+ bid concept in detail, as he did at the kick-off event – and national field hockey player Emma Davidsmeyer talks to Thorsten Kausch about the opportunities and charm of the Olympics.

We will then move the discussion from the stage to various dialog stations. This is where the people of Wandsbek can get directly involved. Many wishes and ideas are expressed, but also criticism. All voices are heard and documented on pinboards.

New day, new district: less than 24 hours after the last participation dialog, it’s off to Bergedorf to Haus im Park. Around 60 citizens from the district find out from Stadtmanufaktur project manager Julia Staron what to expect this evening:

The concept presentation by Steffen Rülke , of course. The head of the Hamburg Olympic project group is currently experiencing a similarly high event workload as we are. Changing locations, changing line-ups, one topic: what do the people of Hamburg have to say about Hamburg’s bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games?

Thinking about tomorrow today, a shrewd mind would probably comment. After all, we are talking to the people of Hamburg this November about the 2025 Summer Games, which would not take place in Hamburg until 2036 at the earliest. Or 2040, or 2044, which makes the A look into this medium-distant future. How can a bid for the Olympics and Paralympics already accelerate urban development projects – or stimulate new projects? And how can all districts benefit from this?

This will be discussed in Bergedorf in interviews with athletes such as Yamen Alikaj (judo), Jan Rothländer (para-rowing) and Kalle Pieper (beach volleyball), who will provide insights into their sporting experiences. It is also very exciting and moving for us to experience the top athletes live. We feel their vibes, their greatness, their passion.

Then it’s off the stage and into the dialog at eye level: We have again brought along our focus topics (including mobility, sustainability, youth and family) and our theses for the various dialog stations. However, we prioritize these topics differently depending on the district. Because anyone who knows Hamburg like we do understands how different the city districts tick.

The weekend was short. Parallel to our dialog marathon, we are preparing for our Triple CEO Circle in Hamburg next week. More than 40 managing directors from place marketing, business development and destination marketing will meet there. For us, this means a huge amount of work and great anticipation.

Back to the Olympics: today it’s Harburg’s turn . The Hamburg district south of the Elbe should also be allowed to have its say. And that’s what more than 50 Harburg residents are doing at the Feuervogel community center. Christian Carstensen, head of the district authority, welcomes the participants and clearly advocates an open dialog about the opportunities and challenges.

Antonia Marmon, Managing Director of Harburg Marketing e. V., and Hanna Granitzki, national field hockey player, also point out the power of the Olympics and the Paralympics for Harburg. Marmon describes Harburg even as “Hamburg training camp” and a breeding ground for innovation (thanks to the TU). And Granitzki thinks: Hamburg is capable of hosting the major sporting event if all districts join forces as “Part of this movement“ understand.

Half-time in Hamburg. 3 participation dialogs are behind us, 3 ahead of us. And tonight there will be a discussion in Hamburg-Nord. We are noticing how interest in dialog continues to grow. Word is getting around about the formats and the number of participants is tickling the capacity limits. This evening at the Goldbekhaus in Winterhude is no exception. More than 110 citizens want to be there and talk to us about Hamburg’s Olympic question.

While the Goldbek Canal flows towards the Alster right next to us, District Head Bettina Schomburg emphasizes Hamburg’s unique “waterfront location” in her welcome address. She also points out the opportunities for Hamburg’s Active City strategy. Schomburg believes that everyone in Hamburg should benefit from the Olympics.

This is followed by a keynote speech by social worker and influencer Erdin Ciplak, aka Mr. BlindLife. For him, one thing is clear: when the Olympic and Paralympic Games come to Hamburg, the city and the event must be as barrier-free as possible. This is an aspect that the Hamburg+ application concept also focuses on. The city of Hamburg has even set itself the goal of becoming the “most accessible city in Germany” .

Either way, the Olympics are a dream come true for Hamburg’s professional athletes. Competing in Hamburg-Nord today are: Simon Plitzko (long jump), Jasmina Bier (para-rowing) and Josie Krone (triple jump, long jump). In the interview, they talk about their perspectives and their wishes for an Olympic bid, followed by the discussion in the three dialog rooms. This is where everyone can have their say: Athletes and citizens.

Hello Eimsbüttel and welcome to the MUT! theater. Today, everything here revolves around a sporting event that moves an entire city. So much so that even the NDR regularly reports on it. 70 citizens are on site today and are getting involved – on behalf of the approximately 275,000 people who live in the Eimsbüttel district.

In her welcoming address, Sonja Böseler, head of the district authority, discusses the opportunities and Eimsbüttel’s attitude towards the Olympics. Patrick Esume, ex-American football pro and RTL expert, will also give a keynote speech on the “social power of sport” and how major sporting events can emotionally connect entire cities.

Lise Petersen (para javelin throw) and Anna Yuri Koseki (rowing) represent the perspective of Hamburg’s top athletes in Eimsbüttel today. For them, accessibility, inclusion and the equal visibility of Olympic and Paralympic competitions are important. And they create a thought experiment: How motivating would it be for Hamburg’s youth to experience world-class sport right on their doorstep? All of this will then be discussed by all participants in the three dialog zones.

A Thursday evening in the Bornheide community center: The participation dialog in Altona illustrates how committed the debate is and how valuable the diverse perspectives on the city and on the Olympics are. The evening is visually accompanied by Hamburg illustrator Julia Zeichenkind.

In his welcoming address, Christoph Holstein, State Councillor for the Interior and Sport, made it clear that the Olympics could be a powerful development boost for Altona – from modern sports and social infrastructure to new mobility approaches and a real increase in participation for all generations.

Highlight of the evening: Former Former professional boxer Dilar Kisikyol gives insights into her career as an athlete and emphasizes the importance of visibility, access and support for young talents, especially for women.

This is followed by intensive discussions in the dialog zones. More than 100 citizens from Altona contribute concrete ideas, clear expectations and critical questions. This shows that Altona is thinking about the future – and wants to play an active role in shaping what a possible Olympic and Paralympic Hamburg could look like.

It’s the end of November. Six participation dialogs are over, the last one awaits us today at the Stadtteilschule am Hafen. We are happy about the many evenings of work that lie behind us, and at the same time excited: What does Hamburg-Mitte have to say about the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Hamburg? Right here in the center, city life, urban development and tourism come together, the beautiful and rough sides of Hamburg lie shore to shore.

The fact is that the Olympics would have a striking impact on Hamburg-Mitte. The opening ceremony on the Inner Alster, sporting events, athletes and sports enthusiasts will enliven and challenge the city center. In his welcoming address, District Head Ralf Neubauer also described Hamburg-Mitte as a central resonance space for the Olympic issue, because the district is “incredibly heterogeneous” and “sport is something that unites people”.

State Councillor Christoph Holstein is once again on site today as a representative of the city and sport. For him, dialog is the recipe for success in the application and implementation of this major event: “We don’t want a project that bypasses the people.” The Olympics are only an opportunity opportunity “if the city can benefit – in the long term and for everyone.”

At the last participation dialog, we once again hear the voice of grassroots sport: Timm Kartheuser from SC Victoria Hamburg points out the structural challenges in Hamburg: “We have huge waiting lists – we need more indoor time, more places, more quality.” At the same time, he also emphasizes the importance of sport as a social kit.

Before heading into the dialog zones for discussion, we and the more than 65 citizens from Hamburg-Mitte will experience top-class sport up close: professional swimmer Rafael Miroslaw describes the power of the Olympics for a city and its people.

Small but targeted: this is how we have designed the expert dialogs with Hamburg’s stakeholders. Depending on the topic, we invite people who can represent their company, their initiative or their interests. We are launching the first expert dialog today with the question: How can the Olympic and Paralympic Games contribute to social cohesion?

Alexander Schulz, Managing Director of the Reeperbahn Festival, said in his keynote speech: “The Olympics has potential for social cohesion, but only if the city designs it as a “joint project”. Transparent, serious and open-ended.

Discussions then took place at the themed tables. The overwhelming opinion: Yes, the Olympics can also have a social impact – as a driver for diversity, participation and cohesion. However, this requires a great deal of trust from citizens in the meaning and purpose of the application and implementation.

Many thanks to the representatives from associations, business, science, culture and administration for this constructive and solution-oriented start to our expert dialogs.

The Olympics also means: ideas, innovations, investments. But how can Hamburg manage these in the best possible way and who should particularly benefit from them? We discuss this with 40 Hamburg stakeholders at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. Its Managing Director Dr. Malte Heyne is given the floor by moderator Thorsten Kausch and places the economic effects in the overall context:

Heyne advocates seeing the Olympics as an economic catalyst – as an opportunity to accelerate innovation, provide new impetus for the industry and make Hamburg visible as an international business location.

Dr. Hariolf Wenzler shares this view in his keynote speech. He is CEO of the law firm YPOG and views the “innovation engine Olympia” among other things from the perspective of the start-up scene.

The impulses on stage are followed by three idea sprints with the participants. This allows the representatives from business, science, start-ups and associations can contribute their perspectives in a concrete and visible way.

Rough and beautiful: Hamburg is all that. And according to Egbert Rühl, this is also how it should present itself to the Olympic Committee. The Managing Director of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft opens the expert dialog for representatives from Hamburg’s art, culture and creative scenes at Klubhaus St. Pauli with his keynote speech. The keyword of the evening: “Authenticity”.

This authenticity is exactly what director and creative artist Marina Sahnwaldt stands for when she talks about her Klangsport project. In her eyes, sport is not only physical, but also sonorous and cultural. There is a sound, a rhythm, a beauty in every throw, every step, every breath, says the Hamburg native.

So what can the Olympic and Paralympic Games do for Hamburg’s cultural scene – and vice versa? The stakeholders will discuss this in the interactive part of the event: at the World Café on topics such as “Culture in the cityscape”, “Culture as a stage” and “Heritage instead of an event”.

The fourth expert dialog places education, science and research in the Olympic context. Hamburg’s Senator for Science Maryam Blumenthal and more than 20 stakeholders debate with us and Hamburg’s project group for the Olympics.

In her welcome address, Blumenthal made her view of the city clear: Hamburg is already excellently positioned to use the Olympics as a driving force for research, innovation and participation. Places such as Science City Hamburg-Bahrenfeld and the new Athleticum at Volkspark stand for this.

Jens Portmann from Universität Hamburg Marketing GmbH in his keynote speech takes the perspective of students perspective. Based on interviews, he outlines their differentiated, often ambivalent attitude: great concern about education funding, social justice and housing – with simultaneous Openness to the opportunities offered by the Olympics, for example for Science City, infrastructure and urban development. According to Portmann, these concerns must be taken seriously in the application and implementation phase.

If the Olympics are to be the future, young people must be heard today. – This sentence captures the essence of what wediscussed with 15 young people, student representatives and representatives of youth and educational organizations during the expert dialogue at Betahaus Sternschanze.

Teacher and education activist Gloria Boateng also promotes this in her inspiring keynote speech “The future runs with you: How diverse Hamburg families are shaping ‘their’ games – and how the city is rethinking the environment”. She emphasizes that the Olympics can only have a social impact if young people can have their say and help shape it. After all, a yes vote for the Olympics in Hamburg would primarily determine their future.

The last week of dialog is a tour de force for our team: four events across Hamburg, including three specialist dialogs on focus topics and with selected stakeholders. On top of that, there were sickness absences, technical bugs and all the other customer projects that we were managing in parallel. We stick together. And we persevere.

On the agenda today: the expert dialog on social issues, integration and inclusion. How can Hamburg use the Olympic and Paralympic Games to address these issues? And how should the Hamburg+ bid concept be designed for this?

The concept is already talking about transforming Hamburg into the most accessible metropolis in Germany. A vision that Dr. Thilo Trott, CEO of the Ev. Stiftung Alsterdorf, shares – and even expands on: Hamburg 2040 should be fair, equal, free, barrier-free and inclusive, Trott hopes in his keynote speech. This vision and many other social opportunities and risks surrounding the Olympics will be debated in the three dialog zones.

In short, we are once again impressed by the constant stream of new thoughts and ideas that emerge from the dialog across urban society.

For our last expert dialog, we travel across the Elbe – to the Vju Energiebunker in Wilhelmsburg. There we will meet more than 20 stakeholders from the fields of climate, sustainability and mobility. We will be welcomed by: Katharina Fegebank, Hamburg’s Second Mayor and Senator for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture.

Fegebank uses strong words to outline that the Olympics is not just a sports project, but a key urban policy project for the future – an “incredible window of opportunity” if Hamburg dares to tackle big things. Naturally, there would also be many links to Hamburg’s decision for the future.

Like this “Window of Opportunity“ can be used in the best possible way is discussed by the stakeholders in the three dialog zones.

It’s done: Hamburg’s dialog marathon is over. It is now up to the Hamburg Olympic project group to sound out the many suggestions, wishes and concerns and incorporate them into the Hamburg+ bid concept. We look forward to seeing how the concept and the communication surrounding the bid develop.

From the outset, our aim for this “large-scale public participation” was to ensure that the people of Hamburg would be able to make a well-informed decision in the referendum on May 31, 2026. At all 15 events and in the numerous discussions that took place around them, we experienced how seriously, critically and at the same time hopefully Hamburg looks at the Olympic question. Thanks to everyone who shared their time, experience and attitude with us.

Image credit: Muhme Photography, Stadtmanufaktur