Olympic Stadium (Athens) facts for kids
| Ολυμπιακό Στάδιο της Αθήνας | |
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| Full name | Central Olympic Stadium of O.A.C.A. "Spyros Louis" |
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| Former names | Spyros Louis Stadium |
| Location | Marousi, Athens, Greece |
| Coordinates | 38°2′9.845″N 23°47′15.36″E / 38.03606806°N 23.7876000°E |
| Public transit | Template:OASA icons Template:OASA icons Eirini |
| Owner | Government of Greece |
| Operator | OAKA S.A. |
| Executive suites | 17 |
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| Field size | 105 x 68 m |
| Surface | Grass, track |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1979 |
| Opened | 8 September 1982 |
| Renovated | 2002–2004 |
| Construction cost | €265 million (2004) (€405 million in 2023 euros) |
| Architect |
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| Tenants | |
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The Olympic Stadium of Athens "Spyros Louis" is a huge sports stadium in Marousi, a northern part of Athens, Greece. It's the biggest sports place in Greece, able to hold up to 75,000 people.
This stadium is part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex (OAKA). It's named after Spyros Louis, who won the very first modern Olympic marathon race back in 1896. The stadium was the main spot for the 2004 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Paralympics. This included the exciting opening and closing ceremonies. Today, it's the home ground for Panathinaikos when they play in UEFA competitions.
The stadium was built in 1982 for the 1982 European Athletics Championships. It quickly became the main stadium for Greece. Many famous football clubs like Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, and AEK Athens have used it as their home field. It also hosted the Greek national football team. Important events like the 1991 Mediterranean Games and the 1997 World Championships in Athletics took place here.
Before the 2004 Olympics, the stadium got a big makeover from 2002 to 2004. A famous architect named Santiago Calatrava designed its unique roof. The 2004 Olympics and Paralympics were a huge success for Greece. After the Games, the stadium continued to host major football clubs. In October 2023, it was temporarily closed for safety checks. After some updates to its roof, it reopened in May 2024.
The Olympic Stadium has hosted three European Cup/Champions League finals. These were in 1983, 1994, and 2007. It also hosted the 1987 European Cup Winners' Cup Final and the men's football final during the 2004 Summer Olympics.
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History of the Stadium
The Olympic Stadium is located in Marousi, a suburb of Athens. It was designed in 1980 and built between 1980 and 1982. With over 75,000 seats, it became the largest football and track stadium in Greece. It was much bigger than other stadiums at the time.
The stadium was finished just in time for the 1982 European Championships in Athletics. The President of Greece, Konstantinos Karamanlis, officially opened it on September 8, 1982. People in Europe called it "The modern Greek Wonder" because of its amazing design.
One year later, in 1983, the stadium hosted the 1983 European Cup final. This was a big match between Hamburger SV and Juventus. In 1984, Panathinaikos started using the Olympic Stadium as their home. Their old stadium needed repairs. Olympiacos also moved to the Olympic Stadium in 1984. They had played some European games there before, even beating AFC Ajax in 1983.
In 1985, AEK Athens also moved to the Olympic Stadium for a couple of years. Their own stadium was being worked on. During this time, a record 74,465 fans watched a match between AEK and Olympiacos in 1986. This is still the most people ever at a Greek football match. In the 1980s, all three big Greek football clubs played in the same stadium. This led to a record number of tickets sold in one season in 1985–86.
Olympiacos moved back to their old stadium in 1989. But they returned to the Olympic Stadium in 1997 and had a very successful period. They won many league titles and reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. They left in 2002 for the Olympic renovations.
The stadium hosted the 1987 European Cup Winners' Cup final between Ajax and Lokomotiv Leipzig. It is considered a top-tier stadium by UEFA. In 1994, it hosted another European Cup Final between Milan and Barcelona. The stadium also hosted events for the 1991 Mediterranean Games and the 1997 World Championships in Athletics. These events helped show that Athens could host big sports competitions, leading to the 2004 Summer Olympics.
The 2004 Summer Olympics
The stadium was greatly improved for the 2004 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Paralympics. A special roof, designed by Santiago Calatrava, was added. This roof was put in place using powerful hydraulic systems. It was finished just before the Games began. The stadium officially reopened on July 30, 2004.
It hosted all the athletics events and the football finals during the Olympics. It also hosted the athletics for the Paralympics. Most importantly, it was the site of the amazing opening ceremony on August 13, 2004, and the closing ceremony on August 29, 2004. The Paralympics ceremonies also took place here.
After the Olympics
After the Olympic Games, AEK Athens and Panathinaikos moved back to the Olympic Stadium. Their own stadiums were old and no longer met safety rules. AEK's old stadium was even torn down in 2003. They stayed at the Olympic Stadium for almost two decades.
In 2007, the stadium hosted the 2007 UEFA Champions League final between Milan and Liverpool. For the Olympics, the stadium's seating was adjusted to about 72,000. The field uses special grass sections that can be moved outside the stadium. This allows the stadium to be used for different kinds of events.
There were some serious fan problems during matches in 2012 and 2013. In 2012, a game between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos had to be stopped because of fan disturbances. In 2013, fans ran onto the field during an AEK Athens game, which led to the game being cancelled.
In 2013, Panathinaikos moved back to their renovated old stadium because of money problems. However, they used the Olympic Stadium again from 2018 to 2020. In 2022, AEK Athens moved to their new stadium, the Agia Sophia Stadium, after almost 20 years at the Olympic Stadium. The Olympic Stadium has also hosted many Greek Football Cup finals over the years.
In 2023, safety checks on the stadium's roof led to its temporary closure. The nearby Athens Olympic Velodrome was also closed. After unsafe parts of the roof were removed, the stadium reopened in May 2024. Full renovations are expected to be finished by 2026.
Stadium Design
Building the Stadium
Work on the Olympic Stadium began on January 7, 1980. Its construction was very modern for its time. It used a special method to build the 34 huge pillars that hold up the stands. Each of these pillars weighed 600 tons! About 26,000 seats in the lower section were covered. The stadium's most striking features were its four tall, leaning pillars, each 62 meters high, that held the floodlights. The stadium officially opened in September 1982.
Modern Updates
The stadium was updated from 2002 to 2004 for the 2004 Summer Olympics. This is when the famous roof was added. The main grass field is made of about 6,000 plastic sections. These sections have grass growing in them and include watering and drainage systems. This design allows the grass field to be moved outside the stadium. This way, the stadium floor can be used for other events.
The stadium has 34 entrance gates for fans. There are also 17 special VIP boxes and 3 parking lots. The stadium is designed so that all the stands can be emptied in just 7 minutes, which is very fast!
What's Inside the Stadium:
- A football field that is 105 meters long and 68 meters wide.
- A 400-meter running track with 9 lanes.
- Areas for pole vault, shot put, javelin, discus throw, long jump, triple jump, and high jump.
- Two electronic scoreboards to show game information.
The Amazing Roof
The stadium's roof was designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. It cost about €256.2 million. The roof has two giant arches that stretch 304 meters and are 72 meters high. The entire roof weighs 18,700 tons and is covered by 5,000 clear panels. These panels cover an area of 25,000 square meters. The roof is built to handle strong winds up to 120 kilometers per hour and earthquakes up to magnitude 8.
Getting There
You can reach the Olympic Stadium in a few ways:
By Car - Drive north from the city center on Kifissias Avenue. Just follow the signs that say "OAKA". If you are on the Attiki Odos ring road, take exit 11 ("Kifissias - Ol. Stadium").
By Bus - Take the E14 bus from Syntagma Square in central Athens. It takes about 30 minutes to get directly to the stadium.
By Metro - It's about a 25-minute ride from the city center. Take Line 1 and get off at "Irini" or "Neratziotissa" stations. From there, it's a 10-minute walk to the stadium.
Events and Fun Facts
- The first concert at the Olympic Stadium was by Dionysis Savvopoulos on September 19, 1983.
- George Dalaras performed two huge concerts in 1983, with over 160,000 people attending. It was the biggest music event in Greece at the time!
- Many famous music artists have performed here, including Pink Floyd, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Shakira, Madonna, U2, Bon Jovi, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, and Metallica.
- The stadium has been the home ground for Athens' three biggest football clubs: Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, and AEK Athens.
- It hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics, including the opening and closing ceremonies and all the athletics competitions.
- Jehovah's Witnesses held large international conventions here in 2014 and 2019, bringing attendees from all over the world.
Images for kids
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2004 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony
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Greece vs Malta (2007)
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Players of A.C. Milan celebrate after the 2007 UEFA Champions League final
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Panathinaikos fans at Olympic Stadium
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See also
In Spanish: Estadio Olímpico de Atenas para niños
- Athens Olympic Sports Complex
- List of music venues
- Lists of stadiums
