Max-Schmeling-Halle

The Max-Schmeling-Halle is a multifunctional arena located in the Prenzlauer Berg district of Berlin and named after the German heavyweight boxing world champion Max Schmeling. The Max Schmeling Hall, together with the velodrome and the swimming and diving sports halls, was planned in connection with Berlin's bid for the Olympic Games in 2000. However, the Olympic Committee chose Sydney as the venue for the 2000 Summer Olympics. Because of this, the construction concepts for the Max Schmeling Hall and the Velodrome had to be expanded to include multifunctionality during the construction phase so that they could be used as multi-purpose arenas. Since the arena was originally designed purely as a boxing gym, there was great agreement among everyone involved to name the arena Max Schmeling after one of the most popular German athletes of the late 20th century. The ceremonial opening of the arena took place on December 13, 1996, in the presence of Max Schmeling, and the first events followed in the following summer of 1997.