The History of Berlin's Olympiastadion In 1 Minute

Aside from the stadium complex’s bell tower, Olympiastadion made it through World War II relatively unscathed. Allied forces occupied various parts of the stadium immediately following the war and setup headquarters there. In fact, British forces remained stationed at the stadium in various capacities until 1994.

Simultaneously, parts of the Olympiastadion complex were still used for sporting events. the Bundesliga held football matches here, with Hertha BSC operating as its home team. During the 1960s, soldiers from the United States introduced American football to Berliners through a series of exhibition games. in 1974, multiple FIFA World Cup matches took place here as well.

In 1998, after much debate about what to do with the sprawling stadium that functions as a stark reminder of Germany’s past. Eventually, it was decided that Olympiastadion would be subject to a two-year renovation project. In 2006, it was the site of the FIFA World Cup.

Now, the stadium functions as a multipurpose arena. Hertha BSC still plays here, and the swimming pool is open to the public. Concerts are sometimes held here, and the Berliner Philharmonic pays in the Wäldbruhne, which is part of the Olympiapark. It is also possible to take a guided tour of the stadium where visitors can revel in its astounding history firsthand.