Olympic Stadium (Athens)
| Olympic Stadium | |
|
Exterior view of the stadium from the northwest, in June 2009. The Olympic cauldron is visible at left. UEFA Category 4 Stadium  | |
| Full name | Olympic Stadium (full official name of the stadium) |
|---|---|
| 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, Track |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1979[1] |
| Opened | 1982[2][1] |
| Renovated | 2002–2004 (Olympic Games)[1] |
| Construction cost | €265 million (Renovation 2004) |
| Architect |
Weidleplan (arch. H. Stalhout, Fr. Herre and D.Andrikopoulos) Santiago Calatrava (renovation) |
| Tenants | |
|
1982 European Athletics Championships 1991 Mediterranean Games 1997 World Championships in Athletics 2004 Summer Olympics 2004 Summer Paralympics 2007 UEFA Champions League Final AEK FC (1985–1987, 2003–) | |
| Website | |
|
www | |
The Olympic Stadium of Athens "Spyros Louis" (Greek: Ολυμπιακό Στάδιο Αθηνών "Σπύρος Λούης", Olympiakó Stádio "Spyros Louis") is part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex. It is named after the first modern Olympic marathon race winner in 1896, Spyros Louis. The stadium hosts one of the biggest sport clubs in Greece, AEK Athens.
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.[3] The roof was added atop the sidelines and completed just in time for the opening of the Games. The two giant arcs have a total span of 304m and a maximum height of 72m. Also, it has a total weight of 19,000 tons with 5,000 polycarbonate panels, covering an area of 25,000 sq m. The west arc was assembled 72m from its final position and the east 65m - both later slid into place. The roof is designed to withstand winds up to 120 km/h. 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.[4] 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.
- It hosted the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final on 23 May between AC Milan and Liverpool, which was won 2–1 by Milan, the 1994 Final between Milan and Barcelona, which was also won by Milan, the 1983 Final, as well as the 1987 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final.
- The stadium played host to Amnesty International's Human Rights Now! Benefit Concert on 3 October 1988. The show was headlined by Sting and Peter Gabriel and also featured Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tracy Chapman, Youssou N'Dour, and George Dalaras.
- Madonna performed before a sold-out crowd of 75,637 at the stadium on 27 September 2008, as part of her Sticky & Sweet Tour.
- U2 performed in front of a crowd of 82,662 during their 360° Tour on 3 September 2010, making it the highest attended concert ever held in Greece.
- Pyx Lax performed also in front of a crowd of about 80,000, during their reunion tour on 13 July 2011. It was the highest attended Greek-band-concert.
- Bon Jovi performed during their Bon Jovi Live Tour on 20 July 2011. The show was successful and almost sold out.
- Red Hot Chili Peppers performed in front of a crowd of about 60,000, as part of their worldwide concert tour on 4 September 2012.
- Lady Gaga performed a show for her world tour, ArtRave: The Artpop Ball, in front of 26,860 people.
Concerts
| Concerts at Olympic Stadium "Spiros Louis" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Artist | Tour | Attendance |
| 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[5] |
| 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
Olympic flame at the opening ceremony of 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony.jpg)
Greece vs Malta (2007)
Players of A.C. Milan celebrate after the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Description: Capacity". O.A.K.A. "Spiros Louis". Retrieved 29 December 2010.
- ↑ http://www.worldofstadiums.com/europe/greece/olympic-stadium/
- ↑ http://www.ien.com/article/olympic-size-solution/3970
- ↑ 2004 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 2. pp. 242, 324.
- ↑ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-06-25/features/9202260048_1_promoters-athens-frank-sinatra
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Athens Olympic Stadium. |
- Official site
- Olympic Stadium (Athens)
- Athens Olympic Stadium "Spyros Louis" – Many photos and detailed history Stadia Greece
