AMSTERDAM 1928

The olympic family moved after Paris 1924 to the neighboring Netherlands and the its capital Amsterdam.  The 1928 olympics were granted originally to Berlin but the First World War caused Berlin to loose the games.  The horrors of the war were anyhow slowly forgotten and Germany was granted right to participate to the games.  Also banned Austo-Hungarian Empire was  given right to participate but in Amsterdam Austria and Hungary participated as new independent countries with their individual teams

The original idea of Amsterdam hosting the games had already been given in 1912 when the founder of Dutch Olympic Committee Frederik van Serooskerken suggested the games to be given to the Netherlands even that the Dutch Olympic Committee didn't even exist yet.  The games were eventually granted to Amsterdam in IOC's confefrence in 1921 so the hosts had good time to build the venues 

Statue of van Serooskerken outside the main stadium

For the venues there was a competition for architecture which was won by Mr Jan Wils with his suggestion for an Olympic City which was located in the southwestern part of Amsterdam.  The main venues were located inside two kilometers from the main stadium.  The equestrian competitions were held in the city of Hilversum and part of the sailing competitions were held in Zuidersee outside Amsterdam.

Personally this made my adventure in Amsterdam very easy as the furthermost stadium, venue for rowing, was located only 1,5 miles away from the main stadium.  Again the local weather played a part in my visit to the Olympic venues when on the first day there was heavy rain whole day and on the second day a thick fog covered the sailing venue of  Buiten Y

OLYMPISCH STADIUM

General view of the Olympic City 1928

Grand Stand 2015

General View of the stadium 2015

The old score board is still there

Olympi Stadium and Marathon Tower from outside

Olympic Flame Caldron and the PA Speakers

Olympic Rings still celebrating the 1928 Olympic Games

Originally the main stadium was supposed to be the Old Stadium located in the middle of the Olympic City. Anyhow the public interest in Netherlands and abroad was so great that the capacity of 20.000 spectators at the Old Stadium was not going to be enough.  Because of this the organizers decided to build a new Olympi Stadium next to the old one.  Jan Wils changed the blueprints of the Olympic City and the building of the new stadium started immediately.

Organizers started a collection for the funding of the building of the venues for the games.  The Dutch public donated over three million Guildens for the building work.  First time ever a running track of 400 meters was built on the stadium and this became the regular length of the running tracks at the stadiums over the world. Additionally a 500 meter cycling track was built around the athletics field

The original scoreboard of the stadium is still located on the northern stands of the stadium. Unfortunately the board is no longer used but it is still there for people to see the technology of the 1928

First time in the Olympic history an Olympic flame was also lit to celebrate the beginning of the Olympic games.  For this a Marathon Tower was built outside the stadium.  During the daytime a black smoke was raising from the cauldron and during the night time a flame was seen in Amsterdam.  A traditional quiz question is always, who was the first ever person lighting the olympic flame. An unknown employee of the Amsterdam gas company lit the flame first time.  Marathon tower could be  seen from every corner of the marathon route and this is where the tower got its name.  Also a new part in the olympic history, there was  also a public announcement system on the Marathon tower where the Olympic news and results were announced to the public outside.  The old PA system is still attached to the tower, but no longer in use.

Amsterdam Olympic stadium is still active with lots of public events held in there.  For example 2016 European Championships in athletics are held at the stadium.  Football team Ajax Amsterdam played their home games at the Olympic stadium before moving to their new home stadium.  Finnish football player Jari Litmanen is still very well known person within the Ajax supporters.

In 1928 the Olympic Stadium hosted the games of athletics, track cycling, equestrian and gymnastics.  Some of the football preliminaries and the finals of the hockey and football were held in the Stadium also

THE OLD STADIUM

The old stadium of Amsterdam was built 1914 and it was planned to be the main stadium of the 1928 olympic games.  However the capacity of 29.000 spectators proved to be too small for the organizers and a new stadium was built urgently.

The old stadium was not abandoned in the plans of the Olympic committee and it was decided that some of the preliminary round matches for the hockey were played at the old stadium

Unfortunately the old stadium was demolished immediately after the games in 1929 and city of Amsterdam built new blocks of flats on the site.  These buildings are still located at this site.
 

SCHERMZAAL

Inside Schermzaal 1928
 

Schermzaal 2015

Schermzaal 1928

Next to the Olympic Stadium was built a special hall for the fencing competitions of the 1928 Olympic games. The hall was named as Schermzaal and it hosted together with the fencing competitions also the fencing discipline of the modern pentathlon.

 

The old venue  is still located at it's old position and is now used as a smaller conference centre in Amsterdam.

 

During my visit to Amsterdam the venue was closed so I was unable to visit the hall inside, but outside I was able to take picture of the old traditional Olympic venue