Seventeen cities in western Germany voted in referendums to pursue a joint bid to host the Summer Olympics, with Cologne serving as the centrepiece of the 'KölnRheinRuhr' candidacy. The bid, estimated to cost around €4.8 billion, targets the 2036, 2040, or 2044 Games and emphasises sustainability by repurposing existing venues — including temporarily converting football club Schalke's stadium into a swimming arena. Germany's national Olympic committee will decide in September which domestic bid to advance, with Cologne facing competition from Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, while international rivals include Budapest, Copenhagen, Doha, Cape Town, and Ahmedabad.