Guangdong Olympic Stadium

Aoti Main Stadium
Location Guangzhou, China
Capacity 80,012
Surface Grass
Construction
Broke ground 1998
Opened 2001[1]
Architect Ellerbe Becket[2]
Tenants
2010 Asian Games, 2010 Asian Para Games
Guangdong Olympic Stadium
Traditional Chinese 廣東奧林匹克體育中心
Simplified Chinese 广东奥林匹克体育中心

The Aoti Main Stadium[3] is a multi-purpose stadium in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Currently used mostly for football matches, the stadium was built in 2001. It has a capacity of 80,012, making it the largest of any stadium in the People's Republic of China by seating capacity.[4]

History

The building of Guangdong Olympic Stadium was started in 1998. It opened to the public for the ninth National Games of the People's Republic of China in 2001. It was originally planned to help host the 2008 Summer Olympics[5] until a decision was made to construct the National Stadium in Beijing. The original design for the Guangdong Olympic Stadium was announced in 1999. Taking Guangzhou's nickname, the Flower City, the American architectural firm of Ellerbe Becket designed Guangdong Olympic Stadium's sunscreen roof to resemble layers of petals on a flower.[6] The design firm stated in its press release: "The stadium bowl grows out of the ground to a sculpted upper edge, like the petals of a flower. Floating above the bowl is a shimmering ribbon of roof flowing like a wave over the seats. It parts at the ends and holds the Olympic flame, suspended between the two ribbons. A hotel surrounds a circular opening in the roof that forms a vertical tower of light, which at night is visible for a great distance." The stadium's multi-colored seats are positioned in multiple sections that are visually connected via a ribbon pattern.

Major events

References

  1. "Chinese Architecture- Guangdong Olympic Stadium". Chinese-architecture.info. Retrieved 2011-05-02.
  2. Guangdong Olympic Stadium architect: Ellerbe Becket
  3. "Making the Aoti Main Stadium accessible". China Daily. 19 December 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  4. "Chinese Architecture- Guangdong Olympic Stadium". Chinese-architecture.info. Retrieved 2011-05-02.
  5. ArchitectureWeek - Design - China's Banner Stadium - 2002.0501
  6. "Guangdong Olympic Stadium". Archiplanet. Retrieved 2011-05-02.

External links

Preceded by
Amman International Stadium
Amman
Asian Athletics Championships
Venue

2009
Succeeded by
Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium

Coordinates: 23°8′15.56″N 113°24′12.67″E / 23.1376556°N 113.4035194°E