"This Olympic bid is a project of the whole of Germany," added Hörmann.
"For us, it would be a great honour to welcome the world in Hamburg," said Hamburg mayor Olaf Scholz in a statement.
During its campaign for the bid, Hamburg had promised to build a brand new stadium for the Olympics while Berlin spent nearly a quarter of a million euros on a campaign to raise support for the games, under the slogan "We want the games!"
"The sporting institutions have decided. Hamburg will become the candidate for the German Olympic bid," said Berlin mayor Michael Müller in a statement following the announcement.
"I would like to thank Hamburg today for the exciting, fair and sportsmanlike domestic competition."
Berlin sports senator Frank Henkel expressed disappointment in the decision.
"It is a shame that things did not work out," said Henkel in a statement. "I am convinced that Berlin, in its sustainable approach, would have been a good candidate."
The German Olympic Committee must still formally approve the recommendation on Saturday, March 21st. The committee will also have to ensure that the Hamburg community is in favour of the games through a local referendum.
The International Olympic Committee will make its own decision in 2017. Rome and Boston are also hoping to win the 2024 bid.
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