Originally designed by architect Werner March and built between 1934-36 for around 42 million Reichsmark, American sprinter Jesse Owens won four gold medals here at the Olympic Games in 1936. Today, one of the avenues leading to the ground bears the great runner's name. Since 1985, the German Cup Final has been played in the stadium, which received a facelift prior to hosting three games in the 1974 FIFA World Cup.

Renovation work began in the summer of 2000, with completion of the main structure scheduled for 30 June 2004 at the latest. The new roof will be finished by 30 September 2004 and the remaining facilities by the end of the same year. The German Football Association has applied to hold the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final and UEFA Cup Final in Berlin.

• The reconstruction will take place in three main phases.
• The lower tier has been completely demolished and rebuilt, with a steeper gradient to improve the viewing position.
• Work on the upper tier has focused on rebuilding the steps, renovating the supporting structure and integrating VIP and catering facilities between the upper and lower tiers. Work on the upper tier is almost complete, with the executive suites on the north at an advanced stage and rapid progress also made on the suites located to the south side of the stadium.
• The pitch was successfully lowered in summer 2002 and the new grass playing surface made ready for the 2002/2003 Bundesliga season.
• Work on the roof began in May 2002. The cantilever roof load-bearing structure is fully in place, extending forward more than 60m, while manufacture of the upper and lower roof membranes to be fixed to the structure is 75% complete.
• The installation of 5,000 dimmable fluorescent lamps to create lighting effects between the membranes, and the highly complex PA system, proceeds at a rapid pace. Even more progress has been made on the floodlighting: in a world first, the light emanates as a single brilliant band along the front edge of the roof and has been conceived to avoid dazzling the crowd. The floodlighting on the north side is already operational.
• When reconstruction is complete, the stadium will boast around 74,500 covered seats, including 5,000 in executive suites and as luxury Business Seats. Previously, only 27,000 seats were covered.
• The VIP area has been totally reconstructed with the addition of new tiers housing both suites and individual lounges opening onto reserved seating areas. Following remodelling of four floors under the existing structure, the basic shell of the new VIP area is now complete, and interior masonry work to form the individual suites has now begun.
• 60,000 of the existing folding seats will be removed and re-installed once the substructure beneath the seating has been reinforced. Guests with access to the reserved lounge seats and the Business Seats will enjoy appropriately high standards of comfort and quality.
• Features subject to national heritage protection include the façade, stand of honour and Marathon Gate.
• The stand of honour, VIP and Business areas and the car parking facilities have been substantially enlarged. The North and South underground car parks including the VIP access areas are now structurally complete and installation of the final security and technical features is in progress.
• Modernisation of the stadium Police station and security control centre.
• The installation of two giant video screens, measuring 140 and 56 square metres respectively has been completed.
• Work progresses on expanding the extensive main kitchens on the north and south sides of the stadium.
• An underground warm-up facility at the Marathon Gate, including a 100m running track and long-jump pit, has reached the completion phase.
• Following extensive excavation and below-ground operations, the stadium surrounds on the north side are now being restored to their former condition.

Financing:
€196m from the federal government, €46m loan to the Olympiastadion Asset Holding Company mbH, guaranteed by the state of Berlin.

Games to be held here:

12-Jun-2006	Group F Match
15-Jun-2006	Group B Match
20-Jun-2006	Group A Match
23-Jun-2006	Group H Match
30-Jun-2006	Quarterfinal
09-Jul-2006	Final