ISTAF Berlin is one of the most popular athletic festivals in the world, and one of the most steeped in tradition. Since the very first ISTAF in Berlin, spectators have been treated to personal best performances and numerous records. First organized by Berlin’s three preeminent athletics associations, the BSC, SCC, and the swimming club Poseidon, the meeting received its current name, when, on March 23rd 1937, the Berliner Sport-Club (BSC), the Deutsche Sport-Club (DSC, later renamed into OSC), and the Sport-Club Charlottenburg (SCC) joined in staging the ISTAF to avoid conflicting meeting dates.

Tonique Williams-Darling and Christian Olsson with "their" jackpot at ISTAF 2004

Bayano Kamani after his victory in the 400m hurdles race, 2004

On August 1st 1937, thanks to the preceding Olympic Games at Berlin, the ISTAF saw its first major success, when two world and one European record could be seen live by an audience of 85,000. Since then, there have been 61 other Internationale Stadionfeste, some which were also staged at the famous Deutschlandhalle. The ISTAF was organized annually – and almost uninterrupted. In 1940, as well as between 1943 and 1948, the meeting was cancelled, due to the harsh war and post war conditions in Germany. Later, it was only cancelled in 1950 and 1951 (due to Germany’s economic recovery), and in 1972 and 1973 as a result of the attack on the Israel Olympic team in Munich.

Maurice Green thanks the spectators in the stadium for their support, ISTAF 2003

Dwight Thomas in Siegerpose beim ISTAF 2005

Heike Drechsler at one of the last official jumps of her career, 2004

Since then, despite strong competition, the meeting has been established among the world’s leading meetings. With the introduction of the IAAF Grand Pric in 1985, athletes can win qualifying points for the Grand Prix at the ISTAF Berlin; in 1988, the ISTAF also served as the IAAF Mobil Grand Prix Finale. The ISTAF and its former partner UFA (1990-1997) also played a crucial part in founding and establishing the Golden Four Series (1993-1997). The Golden Four Finale was staged four times in Berlin. Between 1998 and 2002, the ISTAF was the final station of the Golden League, a new series of the world’ s six leading meetings, founded by the IAAF.

Isabellah Ochichi leads the 5000m race on the highest level, 2004

Tonique-Williams Darling on the last steps towards the share of the jackpot, 2004

the jackpot: 1 million US$

Due to a considerable reconstruction works at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, which is the traditional location for ISTAF, the event took place at Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahnsportpark in 2002 and 2003. In 2004 the great finale of the Golden League series became a triumphal return to its original location, that is now equipped with an unique blue track.