Inside these walls legends are made. Welcome to the Helmut-Körnig-Halle in Dortmund. This isn’t just any sports hall. It is a place where athletes push their limits. The Helmut-Körnig-Halle stands as a testament to Dortmund’s commitment to sports.
Opened in 1980 the Helmut-Körnig-Halle provides a space for national and international competitions. It also serves as a training ground. This arena can hold 4500 spectators. Of those 3000 are seated and 1500 are standing.
The Helmut-Körnig-Halle boasts a 200-meter running circuit with six lanes. It also features a 60-meter sprint track with eight lanes. Separate areas are designated for shot put and jumping events. For training the hall can even offer a 100-meter track.
The Helmut-Körnig-Halle is part of the Olympic Training Center of Westphalia. It serves as the main training site for LG Olympia Dortmund during winter. The hall is named after Helmut Körnig. He won a bronze medal in the 200-meter sprint at the 1928 Olympics. He later became the managing director of Westfalenhallen Dortmund GmbH.
Beyond athletics the Helmut-Körnig-Halle has hosted various events. These include international handball tournaments and volleyball matches. Basketball Bundesliga games and wrestling championships have also taken place here. In 2005 the arena hosted the Taekwondo World Championships.
Let’s talk dimensions. The Helmut-Körnig-Halle stretches 131.50 meters in length and 81.01 meters in width. The maximum height is 15 meters. The minimum is 8 meters. Impressively the hall has a 60-meter free-supporting span. The hall’s volume reaches 130000 cubic meters. The total floor area covers 11800 square meters. Sports areas occupy 7800 square meters.
Renovations took place in 2019 and 2020. The running track was expanded from four to six lanes. Upgrades included the circulation area, the grandstand and the lighting and sound systems. The seating capacity remained the same.
The Helmut-Körnig-Halle uses a gas heat pump for heating. Its structure features steel-reinforced concrete and nine steel three-hinged frames. Glazed framework girders provide additional support.
In January 2020 the Helmut-Körnig-Halle resumed competition. A hall sports festival was held for local athletes. A national hall event followed with about 700 athletes.
The Helmut-Körnig-Halle is equipped with the Polytan SMART system. This system precisely measures and documents training performance. Athletes can conduct jumping endurance and sprint tests. SMART timing gates are installed in the running circuit. These gates are also in the run-up tracks for long jump high jump and the 100-meter sprint track.
During the Sparkassen Indoor Meeting in January 2024 spectators witnessed five world bests for the year. Laura Raquel Müller achieved an impressive 6.81 meters in the women’s long jump.
So as you leave the Helmut-Körnig-Halle remember the dedication and passion within these walls. This arena continues to inspire athletes. It hosts unforgettable sporting moments.