Even if they are slowly getting cloudier: the images of the special atmosphere at the European Championships in Munich, which ended last Sunday, are still present. The track and field athletes had a particularly large part in the electrifying atmosphere in the Bavarian state capital, and thanks to their unexpected best performances, they enraged the audience in the Munich Olympic Stadium.
Against this background, one can expect that Berlin will also be gripped by athletics fever and that this enthusiasm will be carried on at the International Stadium Festival (Istaf) in the coming week. Especially since the organizers were able to announce on Friday that nine European champions have already confirmed their participation in the Olympic Stadium.
Among others, the 5000-meter European champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen, the women’s sprint relay around Gina Lückenkemper and decathlete Niklas Kaul will be there. Silver medalist and Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo, who was the defending world champion this year, has already registered.
Because the International is also in the foreground at the Istaf, track and field fans can look forward to Noah Lyles, the world champion over 200 meters, who achieved the third fastest time over this distance in his gold coup. According to her own statements, double European champion Lückenkemper played a major part in this coup. “Noah said he was really up for a great meeting with a really cool atmosphere. I replied that you absolutely have to come to the Istaf in Berlin,” she said.
Last year’s Istaf was already marked by the awakening after the restrictions imposed by the corona pandemic. This year there is a good chance that the mood will be a little better. After a botched World Cup and the exhilarating European Championship, the Olympic Stadium is exactly the right place for the happy end of a wild year.
