Olympic Stadium (Athens)

Olympic Stadium
Olympic Athletic Center of Athens O.A.K.A (Spiros Louis)
Full name Olympic Athletic Center of Athens O.A.K.A(Spiros Loyis)
Location Maroussi, Athens, Greece
Coordinates 38°02′10″N 23°47′15″E / 38.03611°N 23.78750°ECoordinates: 38°02′10″N 23°47′15″E / 38.03611°N 23.78750°E
Owner Greek Government
Operator OAKA S.A.
Capacity 69,618
Record attendance 82,662 (concert)
Field size 105 x 68 m[1]
Surface Grass
Construction
Built 1979[1]
Opened 1982[1]
Renovated 2002–2004 (Olympic Games)[1]
Construction cost €265 million (Renovation 2004)
Architect Santiago Calatrava (Renovation)
Tenants
Panathinaikos Athletics
AEK FC
(1985–1987, 2003–)

The Olympic Stadium of Athens "Spiros Louis" (Greek: Ολυμπιακό Στάδιο της Αθηνας "Σπύρος Λούης", Olympiakó Stádio "Spiros Louis") is part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex. It is named after the first modern Olympic marathon race winner in 1896, Spiros Louis. The stadium hosts one of the biggest sport clubs in Greece, AEK Athens and was renovated to host the 2004 Summer Olympics, as the centerpiece of the events.

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, and innovatively positioned with Enerpac hydraulics.[2] The roof was added atop the sidelines and completed just in time for the opening of the Games. The stadium was then officially re-opened on 30 July 2004. It hosted the athletics events and the football final at the 2004 Summer Olympics.[3] It also hosted the opening ceremony on 13 August 2004, and the closing ceremony on 29 August 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.

In 2011, 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games held in this Stadium


Concerts

Concerts at Olympic Stadium "Spiros Louis"
DateArtistTourAttendance
3 October 1988 Sting, Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tracy Chapman, Youssou N'Dour, George Dalaras Human Rights Now! -
31 May 1989 Pink Floyd A Momentary Lapse of Reason 60,000
9 June 1992 Frank Sinatra - 18,000[4]
24 May 1993 Guns N' Roses Use Your Illusion 55,000
16 September 1998 The Rolling Stones Bridges to Babylon 79,446
3 July 2001 Eros Ramazzotti Stilelibero -
20 July 2006 Shakira Oral Fixation Tour 40,000
26 July 2007 George Michael 25 Live 40,000
27 September 2008 Madonna Sticky & Sweet 75,637
28 May 2009 AC/DC Black Ice World Tour 50,000
8 July 2009 Carlos Santana Live Your Light 25,000
3 September 2010 U2 360° 82,662
13 July 2011 Pyx Lax Concert in memory of Manos Xydous 80,000
20 July 2011 Bon Jovi Open Air 60,652
4 September 2012 Red Hot Chili Peppers I'm With You approx.60,000
31 July 2013 Roger Waters The Wall 25,807
3 July 2014 Antonis Remos, Despoina Vandi, Melina Aslanidou, Michalis Kouinelis (Stavento) One Country, One Voice 50,000+
19 September 2014 Lady Gaga ArtRave: The Artpop Ball 26,860

Gallery

See also

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Athens Olympic Stadium.
Events and tenants
Preceded by
Sydney Olympic Stadium
Sydney
Summer Olympics
Opening and Closing Ceremonies (Athens Olympic Stadium Spyros Louis)

2004
Succeeded by
Beijing Olympic Stadium
Beijing
Preceded by
Sydney Olympic Stadium
Sydney
Summer Olympics
Football Finals (Athens Olympic Stadium Spyros Louis)

2004
Succeeded by
Beijing Olympic Stadium
Beijing
Preceded by
Sydney Olympic Stadium
Sydney
Olympic Athletics competitions
Main Venue

2004
Succeeded by
Beijing Olympic Stadium
Beijing