Cherry Blossoms in the Olympic Park

Sakura in Munich

It’s that time of year again: In the Olympic Park, beautiful pink cherry blossoms are once again drawing crowds of visitors to hanami - to “view the blossoms”. The cherry trees have a special history: It all began with the 1972 Summer Olympics, for which the park was created. At the time, Munich wanted to present itself as cosmopolitan and modern - and that is exactly what the park reflects to this day.

That same year, the 1972 Winter Olympics were held in Sapporo, Japan. This connection extended beyond sports: Munich and Sapporo became sister cities. And from that grew a friendship that is still evident today.

The cherry trees in the Olympic Park are a gift from Sapporo. They were planted as a symbol of the bond between the two cities and bring a piece of Japanese culture to Munich. With a population of just under two million, Sapporo is one of Japan’s largest cities and is located on Hokkaido, the northernmost of the Japanese islands.

In Japan, cherry blossoms - “sakura” - hold a very special meaning. They symbolize beauty, but also the fleeting nature of such moments. Today, the blossoming trees provide truly picture-perfect scenes every spring. At the same time, they serve as a reminder that the 1972 Olympic year left behind more than just sports: namely, an international friendship that lives on to this day, and blossoms anew every year.