The Berlin Olympic Stadium: Built for the 1936 Games

 

This morning, before leaving Berlin, after just a lightning visit on our way home from Poland, we delayed the early departure that we had planned, because we both wanted to go to The Olympic Stadium that was built for the 1936 games. I was not prepared for what an emotional experience it would be for both of us. Maybe we are just a pair of great big softies but after buying our ticket to go in and then climbing up to the very back of the stadium, we both had to sit down for a while and were not able to speak to each other because of overwhelming reaction to actually just standing there looking at the scene of that quite unique games held there. In fact we did not speak for most of our stay there.

For myself, I am blessed with a most vivid imagination and could clearly see all the old newsreel film from that time running before my eyes and I know for sure that Steve could see it all as plain as the hand holding the camera in front of us. 

Now the home of the home of Herta BSC Football Club and with replacement seating, smart modern toilets too but all housed in a classical stadium that has not changed and still looks as grand as the opening time. It is a stadium with a lot to say and I think the world could not miss that message.

 

The whole site was so exquisitely planned with the Olympic Swimming Pool and diving area right next to the main body of this magnificent palace of sport, that stunned me because it is a pure art work that is also a most wonderful sporting showpiece. All of the sections are around the park placed in close proximity and that seems to me to be so much better than events venues situated miles away from each other as seems to be the trend now.