2009 World Championships on CONICA Track 

This summer Berlin will host the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics. From 15 to 23 August 2009, the best athletes compete on a brand new running track in the Olympic Stadium.

On the occasion of the International competition, our long-time German partner BSW Berleburger Schaumstoffwerk GmbH will resurface the blue synthetic top layer of more than 12’000 m2 using CONICA materials. BSW, who also installed the original track surface, expects to finish the application work in the beginning of next year.

“The newly resurfaced track will contribute to promote the performances of the athletes and at the same time, it will help to prevent injuries”, says Karl Meyer, Director at CONICA for many years. He enthusiastically explains: “Having the right surface can easily make a difference of tenths of a second when running, and a difference of centimetres when jumping!”

Before 1991, the World Championships in Athletics were held every fourth year. Since then the event has been held biennially. It is organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and is the fourth biggest event after the Olympic Games, the Football World Championships and the Football European Championships.

Historically, the Olympic Stadium Berlin is the ground of the football club Hertha BSC Berlin. In 2006, the FIFA World Cup final was held in the stadium. Apart from numerous other events, the Olympic Stadium annually hosts the IAAF Golden League Meeting ISTAF.
In 2007, the IOC/IAKS Award, the only international architecture price for sports and leisure facilities, was conferred to the Berliner Olympic Stadium.