Olympiastadion
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Age: 31
Position: Forward
Country: Ecuador
Caps: 67
Goals: 29
Club: Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito
Previous clubs: El Nacional, Bacelona de Guayaquil, Necaxa, Southampton, Aucas
Estimated 'Chelsea-target' value: £1 million. |  |
Friday, 12, May 2006 05:10
Capacity: 74,500
Games Hosted: Brazil vs. Croatia (Group F)
Sweden vs. Paraguay (Group B)
Ecuador vs. Germany (Group A)
Ukraine vs. Tunisia (Group H)
Plus: 1st Quarter-Final
The 2006 World Cup Final
Home Club: Hertha BSC
Cost: $242 million, reconstruction
Twinned with. The Maracana, Brazil.
Berlin guide
History: The eyes of the world will be on the oval-shaped Olympiastadion on July 9th when the famous old stadium hosts football's showpiece event, the World Cup Final. Each one of the 736 players in the 32 national squads that will contest the tournament will have dreamed of walking out onto the pitch at such an occasion and each one of the 22 players that do will remember their surroundings for the rest of their lives.
First constructed in 1936 for the Berlin Olympic Games, made famous by Jesse Owens and Adolf Hitler, the Olympiastadion has undergone a four-year, ?242 million redevelopment to upgrade its facilities for the 2006 World Cup. Despite the massive project required to spruce up the old ground, the infamous efficiency and organisational skills of the Germans ensured that a 55,000 capacity was maintained throughout, redeveloping it one section at a time. So that's "two world wars and one world cup", but one-down on national stadium construction, then.
The shell of the ground has retained many of its original features, including the perfect oval shape that is only broken by the Marathon Gate. It was this opening that allowed competitors of the 26-mile race to enter the stadium for the final lap of honour at the city's Olympic Games. Through the gap, the iconic Maifeld Belltower is clearly visible and provides a reminder of Berlin's architectural history. Set against the pioneering, 5,000-strong "ring of fire" floodlights that are built into the roof, it creates a striking juxtaposition.
The main drawback of the stadium is the obvious presence of a running track, a lingering reminder of the structure's original function. The track means that the crowd are set back from the pitch making the atmosphere slightly muted, something that has discouraged many football teams from using athletics stadiums in the past. However, a lack of atmosphere is unlikely to be a problem, or deter many fans from attending, when the two teams competing are one win away from the ultimate prize in world football.
Alistair Potter