Stadio Olimpico facts for kids
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Stadio Olimpico
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The Olimpico
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| Former names | Stadio dei Cipressi (1928–53) Stadio dei Centomila (1953–60) |
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| Address | Viale dello Stadio Olimpico Rome Italy |
| Coordinates | 41°56′02″N 12°27′17″E / 41.93389°N 12.45472°E |
| Elevation | 21 m (69 ft) |
| Public transit | ATAC tram line 2; bus lines 32, 69, 168, 188, 200, 226, 280, 301, 446, 628, 910, 911 |
| Owner | Sport e Salute |
| Operator | Italian National Olympic Committee |
| Type | Stadium |
| Genre(s) | sporting events |
| Capacity | 70,634 |
| Record attendance | 78,886 (12 May 1974, Lazio – Foggia 1-0) |
| Field size | 105 × 68 m |
| Field shape | Rectangular |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | 2, atop of Northern and Southern stands |
| Current use | Association football venue Athletics venue Rugby union venue Concert venue |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1928 |
| Built | 1928–53 |
| Opened | 17 May 1953 |
| Renovated | 1988–90, 2007–08 |
| Construction cost | 3,400,000,000 ITL (1953) 233,000,000,000 ITL (1988–90) 17,000,000 € (2007–08) |
| Architect | E. Del Debbio (1928) L. Moretti (1933–37) C. Valle (1951) A. Vitellozzi (1951–53, 1988–90) M. Clerici (1988–90) |
| Builder | Speroni (1928) |
| Structural engineer | A. Frisa, A. Pintonello (1927) C. Roccatelli (1951–53) P. Teresi, A.M. Michetti, M. Majowiecki (1988–90) |
| General contractor | Co.Ge.Far. (1988–90) |
| Tenants | |
| 1953–present 1953–present 1953–present 1954–present |
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The Stadio Olimpico (which means "Olympic Stadium" in Italian) is a huge sports stadium in Rome, Italy. It's often called l'Olimpico for short. With over 70,000 seats, it's the biggest sports place in Rome and the second-largest in all of Italy.
This stadium is used for many different things. It's the home field for Rome's two main football teams, S.S. Lazio and A.S. Roma. The Italian national football and rugby teams also play some of their games here. Besides sports, the Olimpico hosts big concerts and other events.
The Stadio Olimpico has a long history. It was first built in 1928 and has been updated several times. It became famous when it hosted the 1960 Summer Olympics. Since then, it has been the site of many important international sports events, including the FIFA World Cup final in 1990 and several UEFA Champions League finals.
Contents
History of the Stadium
Early Days: Stadio dei Cipressi
The idea for a big sports complex in Rome started in 1926. The area chosen was a swampy spot near a hill called Monte Mario. Building began in 1928, and the stadium was first called the Stadio dei Cipressi. It opened in 1932, but it wasn't as big as planned yet.
The stadium was built on raised ground because the area was wet. It was designed for both sports and large public gatherings. From 1933, the stadium was made bigger, with plans to hold 100,000 people. However, these plans were stopped by World War II. During the war, soldiers used the stadium for storing vehicles and for their own sports events.
Becoming the Stadio dei Centomila
After World War II, the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) took over the stadium. They started a big renovation project. In 1951, Annibale Vitellozzi became the main architect for the project. The stadium was finished in 1952.
The new stadium was made of concrete and covered with travertine stone. It had two long stands and two curved stands. Most of the stadium was open to the sky, except for one main stand. Two electronic scoreboards were added. The running track was 507 meters long.
The stadium was officially opened on May 17, 1953. It was called the Stadio dei Centomila (Stadium of the 100,000) because that was its planned capacity. The first event was a football match between Italy and Hungary. Hungary won 3-0. The next Sunday, Rome's football clubs, SS Lazio and Juventus FC, played their first club match there.
In 1954, the stadium hosted the final of the Rugby Union European Cup. France beat Italy in front of about 25,000 fans.
The 1960 Summer Olympics
In 1955, Rome was chosen to host the 1960 Summer Olympics. This made it urgent to get the stadium ready. It was renamed the Stadio Olimpico. Only small changes were needed because the stadium was still quite new. More seats were added for reporters, and four tall lighting towers were built for evening events.
On August 25, 1960, the stadium hosted the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Many amazing athletes competed there. American sprinter Wilma Rudolph won three gold medals in running events, setting new records. Other famous athletes like Otis Davis and Herb Elliott also won gold medals.
Major Football Events After the Olympics
After the 1960 Olympics, the Olimpico became a key place for football. It hosted the home games for SS Lazio and AS Roma. In 1964, it held a special play-off game to decide the Italian league title (called the scudetto). Bologna beat Inter 2-0 to win the championship.
In 1968, Italy hosted the UEFA European Championship. The Olimpico was the main venue, hosting the final between Italy and Yugoslavia. The first game was a 1-1 draw, so they played again two days later. Italy won the replay 2-0, becoming European champions.
The stadium also hosted the 1973 Intercontinental Cup final, where Independiente from Argentina beat Juventus FC 1-0. In 1977, the Olimpico hosted its first European Cup final (now called the Champions League). Liverpool FC beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1.
In 1980, Italy hosted the European Championship again, and the Olimpico held the final. West Germany beat Belgium 2-1. The 1980s were the last decade for the stadium without a full roof. In 1984, Liverpool returned to the Olimpico and won another European Cup final, beating AS Roma in a penalty shootout.
Big Changes for the 1990 World Cup
Before the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the Stadio Olimpico went through a huge renovation. The stadium was almost completely rebuilt and a new roof was added. This made it a modern, covered stadium with a capacity of 85,000 seats. The work was finished in April 1990, just before the World Cup started.
During the 1990 World Cup, Italy played several matches at the Olimpico. The final was held there on July 8, 1990, where West Germany beat Argentina 1-0.
After the World Cup, the Olimpico continued to host major finals. In 1991, AS Roma played the second leg of the UEFA Cup final there. In 1996, Juventus FC won the UEFA Champions League final at the Olimpico, beating AFC Ajax in a penalty shootout.
Modern Updates and Events
In 2007-2008, the stadium was renovated again to prepare for the 2009 UEFA Champions League final. More comfortable seats were installed, and VIP areas were added. The capacity was slightly reduced to 70,634 seats.
On May 27, 2009, FC Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Champions League final at the Olimpico. Since 2008, the stadium has also hosted the final of the Coppa Italia, Italy's main cup competition.
In 2021, the Olimpico was one of the host stadiums for the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament (which was delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). It hosted three group stage matches and a quarter-final game. Italy played their first three matches there, winning all of them.
In June 2024, the Olimpico hosted the 2024 European Athletics Championships, 50 years after it last held this event.
Other Recurring Sports Events
Golden Gala Athletics
Since 1980, the Stadio Olimpico has hosted the Golden Gala, a yearly summer athletics event. It brings together top athletes from around the world. The first Golden Gala was held shortly after the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Many Italian athletes who couldn't go to Moscow competed and set new records.
The Golden Gala is a very popular event, drawing tens of thousands of spectators. It has been part of the Diamond League, a global athletics tour, since 2010. In 2013, it was renamed the Pietro Mennea Golden Gala, in honor of a famous Italian sprinter.
Six Nations Rugby
The Italian rugby team plays its home matches in the Six Nations Championship at the Stadio Olimpico. They moved here in 2012 because their old stadium, Stadio Flaminio, was too small and couldn't be easily expanded.
The Olimpico first hosted a Six Nations match on February 11, 2012, when Italy played England on a snowy, frozen field. Italy has had some memorable victories at the Olimpico, including their first-ever Six Nations wins against France and Ireland in 2013. By 2024, Italy had played many international rugby matches at the stadium.
Music Events
With its new roof after the 1990 renovation, the Olimpico became a great place for concerts. The first international artists to play there were Miles Davis and Pat Metheny in 1991.
The record for the largest concert audience at the stadium was set in 1998 by Italian singer Claudio Baglioni. About 90,000 people attended his concert, thanks to a special stage built on the pitch.
Many famous musicians have performed at the Olimpico. Italian singer-songwriter Vasco Rossi has played there more than anyone else, with 23 concerts between 1991 and 2023. The British band Depeche Mode has performed there five times, and the Irish band U2 has played four concerts. Other stars like David Bowie and Tina Turner have also graced the stage.
Sports Events
Major Competitions Hosted
- 1960 Summer Olympics
- UEFA Euro 1968
- 1974 European Athletics Championships
- 1975 Summer Universiade (student games)
- UEFA Euro 1980
- 1981 IAAF World Cup (athletics)
- 1987 World Championships in Athletics
- 1990 FIFA World Cup
- 1995 Military World Games
- 2001 Summer Deaflympics (for deaf athletes)
- Six Nations Championship (rugby)
- UEFA Euro 2020
- 2024 European Athletics Championships
Important Matches Hosted
- UEFA Euro 1968 final (Italy vs. Yugoslavia 2–0)
- 1973 Intercontinental Cup (Juventus FC vs. CA Independiente 0–1)
- 1977 European Cup final (Liverpool F.C. vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach 3–1)
- UEFA Euro 1980 final (West Germany vs. Belgium 2–1)
- 1984 European Cup Final (Liverpool F.C. vs. AS Roma 5–3 after penalty shootout)
- 1990 FIFA World Cup Final (West Germany vs. Argentina 1–0)
- 1991 UEFA Cup final (2nd leg, AS Roma vs. Inter 1–0)
- 1996 UEFA Champions League final (Juventus FC vs. AFC Ajax 5–3 after penalty shootout)
- 2009 UEFA Champions League final (FC Barcelona vs. Manchester United 2–0)
- 2013 Six Nations match Italy vs. France 23–18 (Italy's first win against France in the championship)
- 2013 Six Nations match Italy vs. Ireland 22–15 (Italy's first win against Ireland in the championship)
Images for kids
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The Olimpico on a 1950s colour postcard
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Helmut Haller and Tarcisio Burgnich during the scudetto play-off between Bologna and Inter
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Juventus captain Sandro Salvadore (left) in action against Independiente in 1973
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Pietro Mennea wins the 200-metre dash at the 1974 European Championships.
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Giancarlo De Sisti celebrates after scoring the winning goal in the 1974–75 Roma v. Lazio derby
See also
In Spanish: Estadio Olímpico de Roma para niños
