Confident that the Eleventh Olympic Games would be held in Berlin, extensive plans were drawn up for the remodelling of the Berlin Stadium, the architect, Werner March, being entrusted with this work.
The Reich Commission for Physical Training was placed in charge of the preparations for the Olympic Games. The German Stadium, which it had erected in 1913 and which was intended. as the scene of the Olympic Games of 1916, was situated in the centre of the Grunewald Race Course, the land having been leased from the Prussian Exchequer. The Reich Commission for Physical 'Training was under-lessee of the Berlin Racing Association and any structural changes were subject
to its approval. One condition for every new construction was that no part of it should extend over the race track, and for this reason the Stadium could be enlarged only by being sunk deeper into the ground. This solution was accepted, since it was approved by both the Racing Association and the various sporting federations to which it was submitted in November, 1930 for technical examination and criticism. One question, however, remained unsolved: that pertaining to property rights. The project of remodelling the Stadium would cost more than 1,000,000 Reichsmarks, a sum which could be guaranteed only if the investment were secure for a considerable period of time. The lease of the Berlin Racing Association expired in 1943 and an extension did not come into question for the time being because the Racing Association was undecided whether to continue the maintenance of a race track and moreover was in arrears in the payment of its lease. Plans of another nature were also begun in 1930. The festive character of the former Olympic Games had left much to be desired from the viewpoint of harmony, and Dr. Diem, in anticipation of the future task, took up the problem of devising a Festival Play.
1931
The International Olympic Committee met in Barcelona between April 25th and 27th, 1931. A revolution had broken out in Spain, however, and the Spanish members were prevented from being present, while the attendance of the other delegates was also poor. In addition to Berlin, Barcelona itself was the chief applicant for the Games since with its newly constructed stadium it possessed all the qualifications for the successful presentation of an Olympic Festival. Dr. Lewald portrayed the advantages which Berlin possessed in comparison with Barcelona by presenting the contemporary plans for the remodelling of the Grunewald Stadium and calling attention to Berlin's ideal situation in the heart of Europe. He also emphasized Berlin's justified claims to an Olympic Festival in view of the fact that the Games of 1916 had been prevented by the World War, and referred to the unusual number of visitors which could be expected to make the journey to Berlin, whereas Barcelona, because of its less favourable location, could not hope for nearly so many active participants or spectators. The balloting, which was performed secretly, resulted in a majority for Berlin. The President of the International Olympic Committee, Count Baillet-Latour, proposed, however, with the approval of the two German delegates, that in view of the reduced number of members present the absentees be requested to submit their votes telegraphically or by letter. This resulted in 43 votes for Berlin as opposed to 16 for Barcelona, 8 having abstained from voting.