Olympic Stadium (Athens)
| Olympic Stadium | |
|---|---|
| OAKA Spiros Louis Stadium |
|
 |
|
| Full name | Athens Olympic Stadium |
| Location | Maroussi, Athens, Greece |
| Built | 1979[1] |
| Opened | 1982[1] |
| Renovated | 2002-2004 (Olympic Games)[1] |
| Owner | Greek Government |
| Operator | OAKA |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction cost | €265 million (Renovation 2004) |
| Architect | Santiago Calatrava (Renovation) |
| Capacity | 71,030[1] |
| Field dimensions | 105 x 68 m[1] |
| Tenants | |
| Panathinaikos AEK Athens Athens 2004 |
|
The Olympic Stadium (Greek: Ολυμπιακό Στάδιο, Olympiakó Stádio), is a stadium that is part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex. It is also known as the Athens Olympic Stadium, Spiridon "Spiros" Louis Stadium, named after the man to win the first (modern) Olympic marathon race in 1896.
Contents |
History
Located in the area of Marousi in Athens, the stadium was originally designed in 1979 and built in 1980-1982. It was completed in time to host the 1982 European Championships in Athletics. It was inaugurated by the President of Greece, at the time Konstantinos Karamanlis, on 8 September 1982. It also hosted several events of the 1991 Mediterranean Games and the 1997 World Championships in Athletics, sought in order to prove that it was capable of hosting major sporting events after the failure of Athens to win the 1996 Summer Olympics.
It was extensively renovated in time for the 2004 Summer Olympics, including a roof designed by Santiago Calatrava that was added atop the sidelines. The roof was completed just in time for the opening of the Games, and the stadium was then officially re-opened on July 30, 2004. It hosted the athletics events and the football final at the 2004 Summer Olympics. It also hosted the opening ceremony on August 13, 2004, and the closing ceremony on August 29, 2004. The stadium's attendance was reduced to 71,030 for the Olympics, the initial capacity was some 75,000, though only 56,700 seats were made publicly available for the track and field events and slightly more for the football final. The turf system consists of natural grass in modular containers which incorporate irrigation and drainage systems.
The Olympic Stadium has been used at various times as a home ground by the three major football clubs of the Athens area, Olympiacos Piraeus, Panathinaikos and AEK Athens. The record attendance of the stadium for a football match has been 75,263 in a clash between Olympiacos and Hamburg on November 3, 1983.
The stadium hosted the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final on May 23, 2007 between Milan and Liverpool, which was won 2-1 by the former. This stadium also hosted the 1994 UEFA Champions League Final also won by Milan, the 1983 European Cup Final as well as the 1987 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final.
The stadium has hosted concerts by many famous artists, including Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tina Turner, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, George Michael, Guns N' Roses, Shakira & Madonna, U2, among others.
P!nk was scheduled to perform at the stadium during her I'm Not Dead Tour on July 19, 2007, but she cancelled the show, due to illness.[2]
Madonna performed before a crowd of 75,637, making her Sticky & Sweet Tour the most successful concert ever held, in Greece.
Gallery
 Olympic flame at the opening ceremony of 2004 Summer Olympics |
 OAKA During the match Panathinaikos - Dinamo Tbilisi, July 2008 |
See also
- Athens Olympic Sports Complex
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Description: Capacity". O.A.K.A. "Spiros Louis". http://www.oaka.com.gr/article_detail.asp?e_cat_serial=001003001001&e_cat_id=132&e_article_id=142. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
- ↑ http://www.pinkspage.com/us/news/release-regarding-p-nks-canceled-athens-show
External links
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by De Kuip Rotterdam |
European Cup Final Venue 1983 |
Succeeded by Stadio Olimpico Rome |
| Preceded by Stade de Gerland Lyon |
European Cup Winners Cup Final Venue 1987 |
Succeeded by Stade de la Meinau Strasbourg |
| Preceded by Olympic Stadium Munich |
UEFA Champions League Final Venue 1994 |
Succeeded by Ernst Happel Stadion Vienna |
| Preceded by Ullevi Gothenburg |
IAAF World Championships in Athletics Venue 1997 |
Succeeded by Estadio Olímpico de Sevilla Seville |
| Preceded by Stadium Australia Sydney |
Summer Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies (Olympic Stadium) 2004 |
Succeeded by Beijing National Stadium Beijing |
| Preceded by Stadium Australia Sydney |
Olympic Athletics competitions Main Venue 2004 |
Succeeded by Beijing National Stadium Beijing |
| Preceded by Stadium Australia Sydney |
Olympic Football tournament Final Venue 2004 |
Succeeded by Beijing National Stadium Beijing |
| Preceded by Stade de France St-Denis |
UEFA Champions League Final Venue 2007 |
Succeeded by Luzhniki Stadium Moscow |
| Preceded by Karaiskakis Stadium Piraeus 1996 |
Greek Super Cup venue 2007 |
Succeeded by |
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