Munich: Olympic Alternatives from a Kindergarten Worker’s Perspective
A perspective on some of the negative side effects should Olympic fever catch Munich.
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There has been a lot of advertising lately about the campaign to bring the Olympics to Munich. It feels like everywhere you look; from the multi billboard monstrosity at Odeonsplatz to the overwhelming amount of S-Bahn ads, you can’t escape it. Several companies have taken it upon themselves to make sure the Olympic fever is contagious. Billboards selling this or marketing that, in the end it all has to do with winning, medals, and athletes. It’s very subtle, it’s supposed to be, but let’s pause to consider what exactly the politicians and capitalists are trying to do. Don’t get me wrong, please, I like watching international sports competitions just like the next person, but I think there are some very important questions to ask ourselves and reflect upon before the vote in a couple weeks – if we’re allowed to.
Firstly, let us ask ourselves who would benefit from Munich hosting the Olympics? Large business owners, capitalists and of course the lovely politicians who are working tirelessly every day to thickly line their pockets instead of giving it to the people they “represent”. The very same politicians who claim they do not have the money to provide their promised day care spot for every child. The same politicians who claim to only have the funds to raise Kindergarten workers salaries a measly 50 (if that) euro a month, yet spend billions on wars that should not be fought. This was a raise in the TVöD collective agreement after the Union bureaucrats ended the strikes and negotiations, against the workers wishes, instead of fighting for what the workers deserved. The same politicians who have essentially closed the Maternity Ward at Neuperlach Hospital, after lying that it would be safe until at least 2028. Taking away critical health services to women who rely on the staff and the services offered for their health and safety. The very same politician who mishandled billions of euros to invest into a second “Stammstrecke” that since 2002 has been causing massive inconveniences, construction, and delays and only hemorrhages more money. These bureaucrats‘ solution? Raise prices on a service that is so mediocre it prides itself on only a 5-7 minute delay .
Who doesn’t benefit? The people living just above the poverty level, those already struggling to pay rent in a very expensive city. There have already been threats of rent prices rising, and costs of living increasing. The Olympics have quite the reputation of causing great economical problems for their host cities, most memorably Rio de Janeiro in 2016, that still hasn’t fully recovered. From an athletic perspective all the sports clubs for youth and schools with sports halls in desperate need of repairs will also not benefit. Any hopes of funding or support flies out the window if the Olympics come to town. This is not the first article to protest against the possibility of the Olympics in Munich, there have been other arguments most notably about opposing the militarization of sports which while it addresses other aspects speaks against the Olympics as well.
So what can we do? Firstly, Unions should call for a no vote on the 26th of October. Worker assemblies must also discuss the problems caused by the defunding policies, most notably where people are concerned (kindergartens, schools, social support and healthcare).
Instead of investing money in wars, funding genocides, or bringing in big investments we should provide better shelters for women in precarious home situations, and offer affordable housing for everyone, not just build more hotels so the tourists have a place to sleep while watching the overpriced games. Affordable housing is attainable through expropriation of large housing firms, and by the workers and tenants controlling their own housing situations. We need reliable and free public transportation instead of continuous exuberant pricing on something that is public and by definition should be free.
Lastly, to add insult to injury, I, along with every other person not eligible to vote, can not actually vote against the Olympics. In closing, every person living in the city of Munich and the country of Germany must be allowed to vote in every decision that affects their lives, whether it´s about the Olympics, who the next Mayor of Munich should be, or who the next Chancellor of Germany should be, everyone should get the opportunity to vote.
