Internationales Stadionfest Track & Field Every Year in August or September

One of the best places to spot a gold medalist outside of the Olympics is at the annual Internationales Stadionfest in Berlin. Every year in September, track and field stars from around the world come to the Olympiastadion in Berlin to compete for a day on the stadium’s uniquely blue track. The Internationales Stadionfest, or ISTAF, is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious track and field events. Since 1921, fans have flocked to Berlin to watch top athletes break world records in everything from the high jump to the 800m. This is where Germany’s Christine Wachtel broke the world record for the 1000m in 1990 and where more recently, Olympic champion David Rudisha of Kenya set the world record for the 800m in 2010.

Tickets for Internationales Stadionfest go on sale in December and sell out fast with seats ranging from only €9 to €39. After the last victors are announced, fans and athletes pack out the bars in Berlin surrounding the Olympiastadion. Don’t be afraid to go wild, these bars are used to hosting rowdy football fans after each year’s Germany Cup. Turn to fan favorites like Luisen-Bräu to find athletes looking to reward themselves and cut loose after a hard season of training.