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The Stauolympiade is coming to Hamburg – and we already have gold.

Gold for the Hanseatic city – but unfortunately the wrong medal

Congratulations to Hamburg: With 236 hours of traffic jams per km of motorway, Hamburg is the frontrunner in Germany in 2025. This is an impressive result that we must honestly appreciate. Even more impressive is the dynamic: Hamburg recorded an increase of around 30 percent more traffic jams than in 2024. This is not just a balance sheet – this is a start.

Against this background, a compelling question arises for the supporters of the Olympic bid 2036, 2040, 2044: Why shouldn't we just make the Stauolympiade a normal event? Hamburg has long since passed the qualification.

The Reality of NOlympia Criticism Becomes a Prophecy
The opponents of the Olympic bid warn of exactly this scenario: A mega-event like Olympia would push the city's infrastructure to the limit. And we are not talking about summer 2036 – we are talking about everyday life in 2026. If Hamburg is already suffering from enormous mobility stress, what conclusions should we draw from this?

Schleswig-Holstein also experienced 30 per cent more congestion – Hamburg is also affected by this regional problem. This indicates structural problems, not short-term problems. Say: Olympia isn't going to be better, it's going to be bad.

The Mobility Disaster Won't Just Disappear
The numbers are clear and unpleasant. The ADAC expects a moderate increase in traffic volume and extensive construction measures for the renovation of numerous motorway bridges in 2026. This is the best case. The worst case is Olympia.

Hamburg commuters, delivery, retail, tourism – all are already pushed to their limits. Olympia would not only overload public transport, but also turn inner-city streets into even greater disasters. The extreme stress for citizens is not speculation – it is structurally pre-programmed.

One suggestion: Realism test instead of high-gloss PR
Instead of going into Olympic fantasies, Hamburg should have an honest debate:

  1. Stocktaking: How will the current mobility problems be solved? What are concrete measures with a timetable?
  2. Worst case scenario: What would the city look like in 2036 if it did not now invest decisively in public transport, alternative mobility and decentralised structures?
  3. Alternative visions: Couldn't Hamburg build a permanently more efficient, greener and more relaxed mobility system with the investments that would cost Olympics?

The 2025 congestion statistics are not a success – it is a warning signal. Hamburg should take it seriously.

NOlympia Hamburg collects until 20.02. 10,000 valid signatures, so that the election brochure contains a more balanced balance of opportunities and risks and does not face 15 per-pages of a contra-page.