The Frankfurt headquarters of the German Olympic Committee was vandalized by what are suspected to be opponents of Frankfurt’s bid to become the German candidate for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Four other German cities are competing against Frankfurt for the candidacy. They are Leipzig, Duesseldorf, Stuttgart and Hamburg.
According to published reports four windows of the committee offices next to the building’s entrance were broken and smeared with paint. The vandals also smashed reinforced glass windows and painted the words “NOlympia” on an outside wall, said Harald Pieper, a spokesman for the German Sports Union.
Heiner Henze, the German Olympic Committees secretary-general said, “we are shocked and absolutely surprised”.
Frankfurt Mayor Petra Roth said, “unfortunately it seems to be the work of military opponents of the Olympics”.
The report said it was not immediately clear if the attack was linked to a Frankfurt group called “NOlympia” which is opposed to the city’s bid.
Police estimate the damage to be about 2000 euro.
The German Olympic Committee will be issuing a report on the five bid cities on Thursday but will not make any recommendation.
Germany’s candidate for the 2012 Games will be announced on April 12. The five bid cities have been asked to support the winning bid when the decision is made.
