Olympiastadion Berlin – tournament stadium description

What matches will take place at Olympiastadion Berlin during Euro 2024?

How Olympiastadion Berlin compares to other Euro 2024 venues?

What is the history of Olympiastadion Berlin?

The creation of the Olympiastadion Berlin is linked to the 1936 Olympic Games, which were to be held in the German capital. The facility was built to replace the old Deutsches Stadion, and was inaugurated at the opening ceremony of the Games, which took place on August 1, 1936.

The stadium survived World War II without major damage, although there was heavy fighting in the area after the Red Army entered Berlin. After the division of Germany into eastern and western part, the stadium found itself within the boundaries of the walled western exclave, West Berlin, and British military quarters were established nearby.

The facility has the status of a historic landmark, and its historic form has been meticulously maintained. The biggest change it has undergone since 1936 was the installation of roofing - before the 1974 World Cup, the middle sections of the stands were covered, and before the next World Cup (in 2006) a completely new roof was built, which covers almost all of the seats in the stadium.

What does Olympiastadion Berlin look like?

The stadium is partially dug into the ground, and only the upper tier of stands has been built above terrain. From the outside, the stands are enclosed by a colonnade, and the walls and pillars are clad in natural stone, which emphasizes the monumental style of the building. A distinctive feature of the stadium is the opening in the western curve (the so-called "Marathon Gate").

The building is one of the best preserved works of neo-classical Nazi architecture. The stone walls, colonnades and artistic details, as well as the carefully planned axial layout of the entire establishment, were a reference to the architecture of ancient Greece. Although devoid of swastikas and other forbidden symbols, by its National Socialist origins, the facility still arouses emotions and controversy.

The stadium has been enriched with new elements, such as an elegant membrane roof, video screens, spectacular dynamic lighting and a contrasting blue running track, which makes it a 21st century stadium. With stands holding nearly 75,000 spectators, it is also the largest stadium in Germany in terms of seating capacity.

What interesting facts are related to Olympiastadion Berlin?

• The stadium has extensive underground premises, and during World War II a bunker was built here, known as the "Blaupunkt-Bunker" (after the Blaupunkt company that used it for armament production). The bunker's reinforced concrete ceiling was one meter thick. The shelter was decommissioned in the early 1950s
• To the Olympic Stadium in Berlin belongs the record of attendance at a Bundesliga match: On September 26, 1969, the game between Hertha BSC and 1. FC Köln was watched from the stands by 88,075 spectators.
• The 2006 World Cup final, which was played at the Olympic Stadium, is known for the altercation between Zinedine Zidane and Marco Materazzi, during which the Frenchman hit the Italian with his head in the chest, for which he was expelled from the pitch
• A number of world records have been set at the stadium, including the current records for the 100 and 200 meters (9.58 s and 19.19 s, respectively), set on August 16 and 20, 2009 by Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt
• The Euro 2024 logo includes references to the distinctive shape of the roof at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin

Where is the Olympiastadion Berlin located?

The stadium is located in the western part of Berlin. The facility is part of a vast sports complex (Olympiapark), which includes numerous training fields, an Olympic swimming pool, a complex of buildings of the Deutsches Sportforum or the Maifeld field with stands and a characteristic high bell tower. Next door is the Waldbühne amphitheater and the subway (U-Bahn) and railway (S-Bahn) stations.

For more information on Olympiastadion Berlin, see the stadium presentation on our website