Mönchengladbach votes by mail on joining Rhine-Ruhr's Olympic bid for 2036–2044
Mönchengladbach will hold a citizens' referendum on joining the Rhine-Ruhr region's bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Voters will decide whether the city should participate in the 2036, 2040, or 2044 editions. If successful, Mönchengladbach would host the hockey competitions during the Games.
The vote will take place entirely by post, with ballots due by 4:00 PM on April 15. The city council has set a minimum turnout requirement for the result to count, meaning at least 20,400 residents must vote 'yes' for the decision to be valid.
Eligible voters include German citizens and EU nationals aged 16 or older who have lived in Mönchengladbach for at least 16 days before the vote. Voting materials will be sent out between March 16 and March 29. Each package contains a ballot paper, a blue ballot envelope, a voting certificate, a red outer envelope, and an informational brochure.
Ballots must arrive by 4:00 PM on April 15. Counting will begin four days later, on April 19, at the postal vote centre in Berufskolleg Volksgartenstraße. Unlike standard referendums, a simple majority is not enough—the result only stands if at least 10% of eligible voters, around 20,400 people, support the proposal.
Mönchengladbach, with a population of 267,213, could see roughly 70-80% of its residents qualify to vote, based on typical German city demographics. The referendum focuses solely on whether the city should back the Rhine-Ruhr bid, which would bring Olympic hockey events to local venues if selected.
The outcome depends on both the number of 'yes' votes and the turnout threshold. If approved, Mönchengladbach would commit to hosting hockey competitions as part of the wider regional bid. The final decision will be announced after ballots are counted on April 19.
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