Some 100,000 spectators cheered wildly at those games as the black American won four gold medals to make a mockery of Nazi claims of Aryan supremacy, with an infuriated Adolf Hitler refusing to enter the stadium when Owens competed. But in the decades that followed, the place was half forgotten and rusting.

"It was dirty and pieces of cement were breaking off. I was at the 1995 German Cup final, and I told my son, 'I'm not going inside that stadium _ it's too dangerous,"' said Peter von Loebbecker, the stadium's business manager.

That changed when Germany won the right to host the World Cup and the federal and state government poured euro242 million (US$310 million) into renovating the arena to host matches, including the July 9 final of soccer's showcase event, expected to be televised to more than a billion people.

Olympic Stadium has been rebuilt under strict landmark preservation laws _ with the stones taken out one by one and cleaned before being set back in place. But it features a modern roof with built-in floodlights and Europe's biggest video screen.

"The unique thing in this stadium is the history has been kept, but now inside it is a modern arena," stadium spokesman Hans-Georg Felder said. "Anybody can build a modern arena, but there aren't many like this anymore."

Rows of bank seating have been ripped out and replaced with seats, reducing the number of spectators to 74,000. During World Cup matches, that capacity will drop below 70,000 because of the space needed for the media.

The only complaint is that the track has been preserved and spectators aren't as near to the action as they are in pure soccer stadiums.

"It's hard to get the right atmosphere here unless there is 40,000 spectators _ but that won't be a problem at the World Cup, all the matches have been sold out," Felder said.

The other 11 World Cup venues are either new or have undergone extensive renovation to get approval to host World Cup matches:

MUNICH _ The 66,000-seat stadium will host the World Cup opener on Friday and is known for the rings around the stadium which resemble tires and glow in the colors of the team playing inside. Allianz Arena opened its doors this year at a cost of euro280 million (US$358 million). It is sometimes referred to as "the house the kaiser built." That's because Franz Beckenbauer, Germany's great star and head of the tournament organizing committee, told taxpayers they wouldn't get any World Cup matches unless they built the new palace. It houses his club, Bayern Munich.

COLOGNE _ The 46,000-seat stadium opened two years ago, cost euro119 million (US$152 million) and will host group matches and a second round game.

FRANKFURT _ The stadium was rebuilt at a cost of euro126 million (US$161 million). Now it seats 48,132 and has a retractable roof. Its leaky roof embarrassed the Germans last year at the Confederations Cup final between Brazil and Argentina. Officials say the problem has been fixed.

DORTMUND _ Built for the 1974 World Cup, this stadium will host group matches and a semifinal. Germany's biggest stadium set a European record two years ago when Borussia Dortmund averaged 77,000 for its home matches.

GELSENKIRCHEN _ Like the one in Dortmund, this 5-year-old stadium sits in the country's former coal-mining region, which boasts the most loyal fans. The 53,000-seat arena will host a quarterfinal. The euro191 million (US$244 million) arena is regarded as one of Europe's most modern, with a retractable roof and grass surface.

HAMBURG _ The modern 56,000-seat stadium has been given the highest ranking by UEFA, European soccer authorities, along with Berlin's arena. It was rebuilt at a cost of euro97 million (US$124 million).

HANOVER _ One of the two north German stadiums, along with Hamburg, a euro64 million (US$82 million) reconstruction job was completed last year, giving the 39,297-seat stadium a roof.

KAISERSLAUTERN _ The 43,500-seat Fritz-Walter-Stadium was named after the hero of Germany's 1954 World Cup title and was first built in 1920, making it one of Germany's oldest. It was renovated during the past few years for a cost of euro48 million (US$61 million).

LEIPZIG _ The only stadium in the economically depressed former East Germany. Built for the World Cup and with 44,000 seats, it cost euro90 million (US$115 million).

NUREMBERG _ The stadium was reconstructed at a cost of euro56 million (US$71.5 million) to give it seating of 41,926.

STUTTGART _ First built in 1933, the 53,000-seat stadium in the city where Mercedes Benz is built has been modernized several times. Bringing it up-to-date for the World Cup cost euro52 million (US$66.5 million).