The review of the World Championships by the governing mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit

New impetus to sports in Germany

Dear athletics fans,

the 12th IAAF-World-Championships in Athletics in the Olympic stadium have set the standard. For 9 days the world has looked at Berlin and experienced absolutely top class performances. The blue track has been imprinted into the minds of millions. The 100-meter final was transmitted in 196 countries, in Germany about ten million people switched on their television sets.

For the walking and marathon competitions the sport was brought into the center of the city. Hundreds of thousands of people created a unique atmosphere around the Brandenburg Gate. And the world championships were not only a success for Berlin, but for the whole of Germany. They did not only give impetus to athletics but to all sports in Germany.

1,984 athletes from 201 countries have shown that no other sport is as international as athletics. Thousands of volunteers set the standards and characterized the image of these world championships: committed, happy and cosmopolitan.

Excellent performances

We shall remember some athletes and their superb performances in Berlin for a very long time. It is not only the world records of Usain Bolt that will stay in our minds, but also heptathlete Jennifer Oeser, who pulled herself together after her fall and managed to win the silver that was thought lost to her. It is exactly this tension, these emotions that the spectators want to experience.

Besides the athletes the public in the Olympic stadium also contributed to a grandiose performance. Athletes from all countries were fairly and expertly supported.

Klaus Wowereit

Governing mayor of Berlin