The 101st edition of the Istaf takes place today in the Berlin Olympic Stadium. Fresh European champions and top international athletes will be there – but two German stars will not take part.
Just in time for the 101st edition of the International Stadium Festival in the Berlin Olympic Stadium, euphoria has returned to German athletics. The successful home European Championships in Munich showed what the German athletes can do and how much they can inspire the audience. The Istaf on Sunday, which is a must for many stars in athletics at the end of the season, should be just as euphoric.
EM heroes gather
Almost 200 athletes will compete in 15 different disciplines on Sunday and the Olympic Stadium will become a kind After show party of the European Championships in Munich. Several European Championship heroes have confirmed their participation.
For example, javelin throw gold medalist Julian Weber will be there at the athletics festival. The 28-year-old lives in Berlin and wants to offer the home crowd a strong sporting performance. “I want to throw far and of course win. I’ve recovered well after the European Championships and I think there’s still more to come.”, Weber said at a press conference on Friday. In his discipline, he will also meet Niklas Kaul, who was crowned European decathlon king in Munich and delivered a sensational performance, especially in the javelin throw.
In addition to Weber and Kaul, Olympic champion and world champion Malaika Mihambo will also be there. In the long jump, the runner-up at the European Championships has to deal with the triple jump European champion Maryna Bech-Romantschuk from the Ukraine. “I like jumping in the Olympic Stadium because the atmosphere here is so great”enthused Bech-Romanchuk even before that events.
The discus throw is also very busy. Potsdam’s Kristin Pudenz missed the gold medal in Munich by just eight centimetres. At the Istaf she meets the American Valarie Allmanwho just won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo last year and set a new stadium record in Berlin.
“Since the European Championship we have had a push that is noticeable everywhere”
The German track and field athletes were enthusiastic at the European Championships in Munich – now many of them are coming to the Istaf in Berlin. Meeting director Martin Seeber talks about the tailwind of recent successes, ticket sales – and many stars.more
Gina Lückenkemper wants to give everything off the track
Short term The organizers, on the other hand, have to do without Gina Lückenkemper. The 100-meter European champion was injured in the final in Munich and is not yet fit enough to start in the Olympic Stadium. Nevertheless, she wants to be there all day as a spectator and follow her teammates Rebekka Haase and Lisa Mayer from the gold relay in Munich. “And I want to break the autograph record”the sprinter from SCC Berlin announced jokingly.
She also convinced world star and training colleague Noah Lyles from giving its Istaf premiere. The 25-year-old American starts over 100 meters and wants to attack his own best time (9.86 seconds). Other international stars include the two-time world champion and world record sprinter Grant Holloway and the Norwegian world record holder over 400 meters hurdles Karsten Warholm. “It’s a huge honor that, in addition to our German EM idols, so many international stars want to come to the Istaf in Berlin.”he rejoices Meeting director Martin Seeber.
The European champion over 5,000 meters, Konstanze Klosterhalfen, was actually supposed to start in the Olympic Stadium, but the 25-year-old had to cancel her participation due to tonsillitis.
“For us you are the greatest”
At the Istaf, the spectators should not only get their money’s worth with the sporting highlights. There will be an extensive supporting program on a stage in front of the east curve and the fans should have the opportunity throughout the day to be very close to the athletes, to take photos and get autographs. “The fan stage will be opened by Gina Lückenkemper. That is her heart’s desire and we didn’t have to ask her too much.”says Seeber.
Under the slogan “For us you are the greatest” the Istaf should also become a special event for children. “We focused in particular on the youngsters. The children have had two difficult years due to the pandemic and some of them weren’t able to do any sport.”, says Seeber. For example, at the “IstafSchools Cup” 640 children from 32 schools had the opportunity to compete against each other in a relay race and individual sprints on the traditional blue tartan track in the Olympic Stadium and to be cheered on by the audience.
tickets and spectators
According to their own statements, the organizers had already sold 32,000 tickets by Friday afternoon. Seeber believes that there could be significantly more. Experience has shown that many people would spontaneously decide to come. “The stadium will be very crowded, it will look good and there will be a great atmosphere”he thinks meeting-Director. The strong performances of the German athletes at the European Championships in Munich created a euphoria from which the Istaf has now also benefited when it comes to ticket sales.
