(FILES) An inflatable replica of the Brandenburg Gate is seen in the Olympic Stadium prior to the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin on June 17, 2023. According to German media reports on September 23, 2026, Berlin intends to withdraw its bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games before the vote by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) on Saturday, September 26. Berlin, together with Brandenburg, Saxony, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, had aimed to host the Olympic Games in 2036, 2040, or 2044. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP via Getty Images)