The refurbishment of the Olympic stadium in Berlin took four years to complete. After building work was completed, the stadium was re-opened with a huge party on July 31st 2004.

Large work force
Up to 1,000 construction workers were used on a daily basis, in an effort to complete the "five star" stadium on time, even though over 100 events were held at the site during reconstruction. The main building firm responsible for the refurbishment Walter Bau, guaranteed a capacity of 55,000 for the stadium. A huge crowd of 73,000 attended the 2001 German FA Cup final in the Olympic stadium, which still resembled a building site at the time.

Huge capacity
After building work was completed, the stadium boasted a capacity of 74,500, all seats. The main stand was the subject of special attention by the builders, with a 65 metre long area being built within it. The stringent rules regarding the monument status of the Olympic stadium caused the building company a few headaches. During the refurbishment of that area, 80,000 sqm of earth were moved, 15,000 sqm of concrete were used as well as 1800 tons of steel.

Highlight - Roof construction
The highlight of the whole refurbishment of the Olympic stadium was the roof construction, which cost around 26 million Euros…11% of the total budget. The steel construction was covered by two huge membranes, each measuring 31,000 sqm. The upper membrane consists of 76 segments featuring 1158 glass blocks, each of which weighed 200 kg. The roof construction itself is supported by a total of 20 pillars.

Unique world wide
The sound and light system installed in the stadium ist he first of ist kind world wide.  312- 2002 watt high-pressure lamps light the pitch without any dazzle effect. A further 5000 lamps were built into the roof in the now-famous ring of fire, creating stunning light effects. 19 high-end loudspeaker towers provide a sound in CD quality. The icing on the cake in the stadium is surely the dark blue running track: "We are looking forward to enjoyuíng this superb arena in the future ", said the Hertha manager Dieter Hoeneß at the time.

Stadium refurbishment details:
Building time: 4 years
Capacity: 74,500
VIP: 98 boxes, 15 sky boxes, 4500 business seats
Score boards: 2 in all, measuring 140 sqm and 60 sqm
Sound system: 150.000 watt from 19 high-end speakers
Roof construction: 45 metres above the pitch. Two membrane constructions, each measuring 31.000 sqm

The city of Berlin can look back on a rich sporting history, brought into being by the gymnast Jahn, to whom undemocratic tendencies were attributed at the time, as far back as 1811. The patriotic enthusiam of the gymnasts was later exploited by nationalists as a means to their non-sport-related ends, which are supposely embodied in the architecture of the the Olympic Stadium complex, whose monumentality can be interpreted as an expression of nationalsocialist ideology. In spite of this dark past, the Olympic Stadium remains a site that represents what it should represent: namely, an idyllic venue for large sporting events (for example the DFB Pokal (German FA Cup) finals), popular among players and fans alike.

Berlin's Olympic Stadium, designed by architect Werner March, was built between 1934 and 1936 for the '36 Olympic Games. 42 million Reichmarks were spent on its construction, which was completed by several hundred different companies. The new stadium replaced the "German Stadium", designed by Werner March's father Otto March. The Olympic complex encompasses hockey, swimming, and equestrian stadiums, as well as a theatre and the oval-shaped Olympic Stadium. If the seats of the Olympic Stadium were to be placed in a row, its length would amount to around 42 kilometers. The symbolism is apparent - the classic marathon run is 42.195 km long. The oval form of the arena is interrupted by the 25-meter wide Marathon Gate, from which one could look out upon the Maifeld and its belltower.

During the Second World War the Olympic Stadium was not spared from allied bombing-raids. Despite substantial damage, a reconstruction was possible, thereby reconfirming the stadium's status as a symbol for the Olympic spirit, unbroken despite the storms of history. In 1969, the cinder track was replaced by a tartan track. In 1974, further structural changes followed within the framework of a 27 million mark modernisation, during which a plexiglass roof, a floodlighting system and an electronic scoreboard were installed. Several architectural features of this unique construction, which is under a preservation order, were also restored. Additionally the new German Sporting Centre, offering first-class training facilities for various athletic disciplines, was completed.