The Olympic Stadium was originally built for the International Exposition of 1929, with the idea that Barcelona would then be the site of the 1936 Olympics (ultimately staged in Hitler's Berlin). After failing twice, Barcelona celebrated the attainment of its long-cherished goal by renovating the semi-derelict stadium in time for 1992, providing seating for 70,000. The Galeria Olímpica, a museum about the Olympic movement in Barcelona, displays objects and shows audiovisual replays from the 1992 games. An information center traces the history of the modern Olympics from Athens in 1896 to the present. Next door and just downhill stands the futuristic Palau Sant Jordi Sports Palace, designed by noted Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. The Isozaki structure has no pillars or beams to obstruct the view. The roof was built first, then hydraulically lifted into place.
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