On the occasion of the 64th Berlinale International Film Festival, Germany’s capital Berlin rolled out the red carpets. A large number of high-profile celebrities from Hollywood attended the opening gala at Potsdamer Platz. The Olympiastadion Berlin was the setting for a high profile event, too, as Marlene Owens, Olympian Jesse Owens’ daughter made an appearance at a press conference promoting the new Motion Picture “RACE” at the Hall of Honour at the Olympiastadion Berlin.
78 years ago, the 5“10 tall and 165 pound light Jesse Owens made his way from New York to Berlin with the U.S. Olympic team in order to take part in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. Shortly before his departure, he announced to the American press that he would return home with three gold medals. Jesse Owens, nicknamed “The Buckeye Bullet” because of his speed, exceeded all expectations and became the most successful athlete of these Olympic Games, returning to the United States a national hero after winning four gold medals (100m, 200m, long jump and 4 x 100m relay).This record remained unbroken until 1984, when Carl Lewis also won four gold medals in Los Angeles.
Through his charisma, his success and his great personal commitment to the advancement of disadvantaged people within his work with the “Jesse Owens Foundation”, Jesse Owens himself was able to contribute greatly to the critical, yet positive and responsible examination of the dark history of the Olympiastadion Berlin. The symbolic attendance of Marlene Owens indicates that Jesse Owens’ spirit and his Olympic records continue to inspire at the Olympiastadion Berlin. Robert Harting and other athletes have already benefited from Owens’ legacy and will continue to do so with the 2018 European Athletics Championships at the Olympiastadion Berlin on the horizon.
The new movie “RACE” about Jesse Owens’ life is set to begin production in 2014 and is expected to hit theaters in 2015.
