The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DSOB) announced on Monday that members of its executive board had voted unanimously in favor of bidding to host the 2024 Games. At their meeting, held in Neu Isenburg just outside of Frankfurt, the executive members also voted to keep the door open to bidding for the 2028 Summer Olympics, if the 2024 bid fails.

"We are utterly convinced that this presents a great opportunity for both a city and German sports in general the DSOB's president, Alfons Hörmann said, adding that "the Olympic project can and will be good for our country."

Tuesday's executive board decision still needs to be approved by the DSOB's general membership at a meeting to be held on December 6 in Dresden. Assuming that the decision passes this hurdle, a special meeting of the general membership would be held next March to decide which German city - either Berlin or Hamburg - would actually bid for the Games. The International Olympic Committee is to award the 2024 Summer and Paralympic Games at a meeting in September 2017.

Germany hosted both the Summer (Berlin) and Winter Games (Garmisch-Partenkirchen) in 1936, while West Germany hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, which were marred by a deadly terrorist attack on Israeli athletes.

pfd/es (SID, dpa)