INQUIRY

Olympic stadiums are usually the main focus of the Summer Olympic Games. They hold the opening and closing ceremonies and are the venue for the track and field competitions.  This week room 11 have been investigating the question;

'How do you build an Olympic stadium?'

We began our investigation by taking a trip through time examining the different Olympic stadiums since the modern Olympics began in 1896. When we looked at the similarities and differences between these stadiums we found that the majority of the stadiums used 'terrace' seating to give spectators the best view of the action. Check them out below.

Olympic Stadiums 1896 - 2008 

  

After getting a sense of the different types of stadiums used for the Olympic Games since 1896 we looked closely at the stadiums that have been used for the Summer Olympic Games since 1996. 

 

2004 Athens Olympic Stadium

We found out that the average capacity of these stadiums was 84,000 people and that 3 of the 4 stadiums were purposely built to host the Olympic Games.

We thought about all the considerations that designers need to think about when designing an Olympic stadium. These considerations included:

• Capacity
• Size
• Security
• Shape
• Attractiveness
• Sight (view for the spectators)
• Cost
• Sound pollution
• Safety
• Future use of the stadium

The last point we decided was really important because what happens to Olympic stadiums after the Olympics has finished? The 2008 Beijing Olympics was held in the impressive Beijing National Stadium but since the closing ceremony it has been been under used. 

London Olympic Stadium (time lapse video) 

At the commencement of the 2012 Olympic Games the London Olympic stadium will become the home venue for an English Football club.

With all these considerations in mind room 11 began to design their own Olympic stadiums adhering to the following success criteria;

• Name
• Attractiveness - it will need to appeal to spectators
• Size - it will need to accommodate a range of Olympic sports
• Future - it will need to be forward thinking 
• Capacity - how many people will the stadium seat?
• Shape - what shape will the stadium be so that all the spectators have an excellent view of the action?