| Olimpiysky Stadium | |
|---|---|
The Olympic Stadium after reconstruction for Euro 2012 UEFA Category 4 Stadium |
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| Former names | see Previous names |
| Location | Kiev, Ukraine |
| Opened | 12 August 1923 |
| Renovated | 1941, 1999, 2011 |
| Expanded | 1966, 1978 |
| Owner | Concern «Sports Arenas of Ukraine» [1] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction cost | $500-550 million[2] |
| Architect | L.V.Pilvinsky (1923) Mykhailo Hrechyna (1936-41) GMP (Germany) (2008-2011) |
| General Contractor | Kyivmiskbud[3] |
| Capacity | 70,050 (football)[4] |
| Field dimensions | 105m by 68m |
| Website | Official website |
| Tenants | |
| Ukraine National National Cup final FC Dynamo Kyiv (2011 - 2016)[5] |
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The Olympic National Sports Complex (also known as Olympic Stadium, Republican Stadium or Central Stadium; Ukrainian: Національний спортивний комплекс "Олімпійський", Natsional’nyĭ sportyvnyĭ kompleks "Olimpiys'kyĭ") is a multi-use sports facility in Kiev, Ukraine, located on the slopes of city's central Cherepanov Hill, Pechersk Raion. The stadium is the premier sports venue of Ukraine and one of the world's largest. The complex also features several other sports facilities and designed to host Olympic games. The stadium was reopened on 9 October 2011 with a performance by Shakira and had its international inauguration with a 3-3 friendly draw by Ukraine against Germany in 11 November 2011. The stadion will host the final match of Euro 2012.
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For most of its history the stadium was known as the Republican stadium.
After Ukrainian independence in 1991, the stadium was given national status in 1996 and renamed again as the "Olympic" National Sports Complex. Kievans still commonly refer to it as the Tsentralny (Central) or Respublykanskyi stadion (Republican Stadium), and the nearby metro station "Olimpiiska" that was also called "Respublykanskyi Stadion".
In 1997–99, the stadium was renovated again in accordance with FIFA guidelines, and its capacity was reduced to 83,450. The stadium continued to be the home ground of Dynamo with the Lobanovsky stadium serving as a training ground. Sometime after 1998 big changes took place as the stadium was not efficient to be kept and maintained. Dynamo decided to reconstruct its Lobanovsky Dynamo Stadium as its primary ground because the attendance rarely exceeded 10,000 spectators. Since that time Olympic was used primarily for football international matches and was lent to FC Dynamo Kyiv for high-profile home games when a high turnout was expected. However, it is not the official home ground of Dynamo or any other Kiev club, as they all have smaller home stadiums and training bases. The stadium is an official home ground of the Ukraine national football team and was the official venue of the Ukrainian Cup final until 2008. Since 2008 Olympic was under a major reconstruction in preparation for the continental championship.
On 18 April 2007, Poland and Ukraine were chosen to co-host Euro 2012, the finals of the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship,[7] with the Olimpiysky Stadium set to host the final.[8] The reconstruction of the stadium involves the demolition and rebuilding of the lower tier, a completely new west stand with a two-level press box (or luxury boxes) between the two tiers, the addition of a 13-story high rise building to the west (to house the Sheraton Kiev Olimpiysky Hotel), and the addition of a new roof covering the entire seating area. The capacity of the stadium after this reconstruction will be 70,050.
On 1 December 2008, reconstruction began when a winner of countless tenders held was announced. It is expected to be finished in 2011 with a capacity of 70,050. The stadium was officially opened by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on October 8, 2011.[9]
The stadium is located right in the center of Kiev city on the right bank of Dnieper river. The stadium could be approached mainly by either Chervonoarmiyis'ka vulytsya (Red Army Street) or bulvar Lesi Ukrayinky (Lesya Ukrainka Boulevard). Both streets southern ends connect to the European Route E95 which is known at that part of the city as bulvar Druzhby Narodiv (Friendship of Nations Boulevard). However the main arena of the complex does not have a direct access to the mentioned streets and could only be reached through several smaller streets such as vulytsya Fizkultury, vulytsya Saksahanskoho, vulytsya Shota Rustavelli, vulytsya Esplanadna, and perevulok Hospitalny. The main bridge that connects Kiev with Boryspil is the Pivdennyi Bridge which supports both an automobile as well as a subway traffic.
There are couple of subway stations within a walking distance: "Olimpiiska" (~300 metres (0.19 mi)) and "Palats Sportu" (~400 metres (0.25 mi)). Currently there is no direct subway connection with the Boryspil Airport. The closest to the airport subway station "Boryspilska" is about 18.5 kilometres (11.5 mi) away. In December 2010 Kyiv (Kiev) City State Administration renamed the subway station "Respublikansky Stadion" into "Olimpiiska".[10]
The airport could be reached by the newly built Kiev - Boryspil Highway (see Roads in Ukraine for more info) which west of Kharkivska ploshcha (Kharkiv Square) is called prospekt Mykoly Bazhana (Mykola Bazhan avenue). The street is, however, adopted to a highway several interchanges along the way. After crossing the Dnieper river, the highway is called vulytsya Promyslova (Industrial Street).
There is a river port right in the center of the city, known as the Kiev River Terminal. There is a substation Poshtova ploshcha which is part of the Kurenivsko-Chervonoarmiyska Line of Kiev Metro and, through which, it is connected with the "Olimpiiska" station.
| Events and tenants | ||
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| Preceded by Ernst Happel Stadion Vienna |
UEFA European Football Championship Final Venue 2012 |
Succeeded by Stade de France Paris |
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