The FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games are two major sporting events that capture the attention of the entire world, not only of sports fans, but of the general public as well. They are true cultural and popular phenomena, followed by tens of millions of viewers.
These events are hosted by major cities, and decade after decade they have always left a significant mark on them.
1. 1990 FIFA World Cup: Italia ‘90
Originally completed in 1953, Rome’s Olympic Stadium underwent a radical transformation for the Italia ‘90 World Cup.
In less than three years, Webuild led the renovation works, rebuilding the reinforced concrete structure, bringing the stands closer to the pitch, and covering the entire venue with a striking white tensile roof.
Thanks to this intervention, the stadium’s capacity increased from 54,000 to over 82,000 spectators, making the Olimpico one of the most imposing and modern arenas in Europe, a true symbol of the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
2. Qatar 2022 World Cup Stadiums: Al Bayt Stadium
The Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, built by Webuild, is a high-tech tent in the desert with 60,000 seats, designed for the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Located about 40 km north of Doha, it blends cultural heritage, sustainability, and innovation: it features water-saving technologies and an acoustically optimized roof. The project also includes auxiliary buildings and an Energy Centre to ensure long-lasting, comprehensive performance.
Al Bayt Stadium was conceived to be partially dismantled and donated. In particular, its upper tier was built with a modular steel structure designed to be disassembled and gifted to developing countries in need of sports infrastructure.
3. Berlin 1936 Olympics
The first true Olympic Village was born with the Berlin Olympics in 1936, when sports facilities were concentrated in a single large district designed to be the beating heart of the Games.
The intervention went beyond the stadiums and arenas, extending across the German capital with urban planning works that reshaped mobility and the organization of public spaces. Innovative for its time, this model marked a turning point in the planning of future Olympic editions.
4. Rome 1960 Olympics
The 1960 Olympics in Rome represented a fortunate meeting of modernity and tradition, where sport intertwined with the historical memory of the Eternal City.
Alongside innovative venues, the 1960 Olympics highlighted some of the world’s most unique settings: from the Baths of Caracalla, transformed into a stage for gymnastics, to the Arch of Constantine, which welcomed the marathon finish.
Rome 1960 successfully combined architecture, engineering, and cultural heritage, leaving an urban and symbolic legacy that is still visible today.
5. 1992 Barcelona Olympics
The 1992 Barcelona Olympics marked a true urban rebirth. The city transformed the Montjuïc stadium into a sports and cultural hub, renovated the Olympic Stadium, and created iconic structures such as the Palau Sant Jordi and Calatrava Tower.
Above all, the 1992 Olympics returned the waterfront to the citizens, reinventing its identity through sport.
6. 2012 London Olympics
The 2012 London Olympics transformed the East End, a once-neglected neighborhood, into a next-generation urban and sports hub.
The Olympic Park, with its stadium and village, is now open to the public and continues to evolve with housing, a university campus, and spaces for start-ups.
Iconic facilities such as Zaha Hadid’s Aquatic Centre and the Velopark remain active, serving as symbols of the city’s successful redevelopment, initiated by the British Olympics and leaving a tangible legacy.
7. 2016 Olympics in Brazil
The 2016 Olympics profoundly transformed the urban fabric of Rio de Janeiro, with redevelopment projects such as the Barra Tijuca Olympic Park and the Olympic Port, the latter converted into a cultural space featuring Santiago Calatrava’s Museum of Tomorrow.
The Rio Olympics’ initiatives also focused on sustainability, aiming to deliver the first zero-emission Games, symbolically represented by the Solar City Tower, a cascading structure powered by solar energy.
