Opponents of Dusseldorf’s bid to become the German candidate for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games have sent a letter to the German Olympic Committee advising the bid committee of their intentions to hold a referendum on the bid.
They are against a decision by North-Rhine/Westphalia and the Rhine Ruhr to become private sponsors of Dusseldorf’s bid.
The group hopes to collect more than 13,000 signatures by April 20, although Dusseldorf’s mayor has said that such a vote would come too late because the German Olympic Committee’s decision on a German candidate is on April 12.
Calling the referendum “democracy” German Olympic Committee President Klaus Steinbach said the results of a referendum will not affect the German Olympic Committee’s decision.
The bid opponents are hoping to prevent the financial disaster they say occurred with Berlin 2000.
