Hill and Schwank to serve major roles in Hamburg 2024 Olympic bid

Bernhard Schwank (left) and Nckolas Hill will play major roles within the Hamburg 2024 Olympic bid ©DOSB

Nikolas Hill and Bernhard Schwank will play key roles within Hamburg's bid team for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, it was revealed today, while a referendum as to whether the German attempt will go ahead has been set for November 29.

Lawyer turned regional politician Hill will serve as chief executive, while Schwank, an experienced sports official who was also involved in Munich's unsuccessful bid for the 2018 Winter Games, has been appointed director of sport and international relations.

Other bid positions are expected to be confirmed over the next few weeks, the German Olympic and Sports Confederation (DOSB) confirmed.

“In Nikolas Hill and Bernhard Schwank we have a powerful team," said Hamburg Interior and Sport Senator, Michael Neumann

"Mr. Hill brings a lot of experience from the management of complex projects within Hamburg.

"Mr. Schwank worked to significantly shape the Munich Olympic bid and is well connected in international sport.

"Both will be working on the project immediately.”

Bernhard Schwank pictured addressing the IOC during the 2011 Session in Durban in which Munich was defeated by Pyeongchang in the race for the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics ©Bongarts/Getty Images

Hamburg was selected ahead of capital city Berlin by the DOSB earlier this year to launch an attempt for what, if successful, would mark the first Summer Games in Germany since Munich 1972.

Greater support from the local population was seen as a key reason for Hamburg's success, with officials hoping this popularity will translate itself into a positive showing in the referendum, something that has seldom happened when similar votes have been held over past Olympic bids.

Munich, for example, failed a referendum in 2013 over whether to launch a bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Speaking to insidethegames last month, Neumann admitted it would be harder to get people to physically vote than respond to a telephone poll, but, with such polls indicating support of almost 70 per cent, was confident of success.

The choice of the proposed November date for this referendum - coming over two months after the IOC deadline for submitting applications of September 15 - means a failure will end any chance of a German bid going ahead.

The city was the third to declare its bid, following Italian capital Rome and United States contender Boston, while Paris is also poised to launch an attempt and Hungarian capital Budapest is another possible contender.

News of Hamburg's appointments comes in the same week that problems surrounding Boston's bid have been indicated by local reports claiming John Fish will be replaced as bid chairman by Bain Capital executive and Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca.

A host will eventually be selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its Session in Peruvian capital Lima in 2017.