The history of the Olympics is replete with groundbreaking records and achievements, but there is also a need to give credit to the venue that have housed these great sporting events.
In this feature, Izuchukwu Okosi presents the top five best Olympic stadium of all time
Special mentions are made of other wonderful sporting arenas that hosted the Olympia
1. Beijing Nest, Beijing.
Olympic Games was hosted by the city of Beijing, and it offered the world a chance to see what pundits called
‘The Big Ear.’ The Bird’s Nest (stadium), as the edifice is also called by the country’s sporting faithful was constructed by the Chinese government, with the utmost importance given to its ability to withstand 8.0 magnitude earthquakes, which was commonplace in the Asian nation.
The Bird’s Nest is popular for the shiny lights that illuminate it at nights and it hosted the final of the football tournament of that year’s Olympics when Nigeria’s U-23 national side coached by Samson Siasia were defeated 1-0 by Argentina that paraded Lionel Messi, thanks to a goal scored by Angel Di Maria.
- 2. Olympiastadio, Munich
This aesthetical haven for athletes was the venue of the 1972 Olympics held in Munich, Germany. Built by Frei Otto, the stadium is beautiful inside out and has a rich historical background. This stadium represents Germany’s economic resurgence after World War 2 left the European nation in tatters. Creativity was abundantly displayed in the stadium’s construction, and the ambiance with white color reflects that. The Germans host the 2024 Euro Championship but expect to see the magnificent stadium penciled as a potential venue for future Olympics
3. Stockholm Olympic Stadium, Stockholm
One of Sweden’s sporting legacies is the Stockholm Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 1912 Games. It was built to taste by the ancient Greek architects, and there is something about classics that usually makes us believe that they are evergreen. The 20th century was replete with great architects who combined Roman and Greek ideas to produce wonderful monuments, like places of worship. Well, to some people, sports itself is a pseudo-religion where triumphs and defeats mirror our storied lives
- Aquatic Sports Center, London
Boasting of arguably housing the best swimming pools in the world, the London Aquatic Center was one of the venues of the London Olympics in 2012. It is also widely known as the Home of the 2021 London legacy. It contains 850, 000 titles that cover the floor, several pools, diving platforms, and changing facilities. The impressive arena was built by the ‘queen of architecture’ Zaha Hadid
- The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles.
The world witnessed two Olympics held at the Los Angeles Coliseum, in 1932 and 1984. The beautiful sports arena was the scene of some of the finest moments in the Olympics, especially in Athletics and more specifically for Carl Lewis, the USA superstar 100m sprinter who claimed four titles in his home country. Perhaps not in its usual splendor, unlike a few years back, but with the USA set to organize sporting events like the FIFA World Cup (in 2026 as co-hosts) and more Olympics in the future, the legacy of the stadium is eternally etched. Honorable mentions will go to the following Olympic stadiums: Wembley Stadium (London), Sypros Louis Olympics Stadium (Athens), Montreal Olympics Stadium (Montreal), Estadio Olympico Universitario (Mexico City). Stockholm Olympic Stadium (Stockholm) among a few others. PS: This article is the personal opinion of the writer. Feel free to contribute and tell us your top five best Olympics stadiums
