Olympic Stadium (Athens)

The Olympic Stadium (also known as the Athens Olympic Stadium, and Spiridon "Spiros" Louis Stadium, after the first man to win a marathon race) is a stadium that is part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex. It hosted the athletics events and the soccer final at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. It also hosted the Opening Ceremonies on August 13, 2004, and was the site of the Closing Ceremonies on August 29, 2004. The stadium, which normally seats almost 75,000, was configured to seat 72,000 during the Olympics, though only 56,700 seats were made publicly available for the track and field events and slightly more for the soccer final.

Related Topics:
Spiridon "Spiros" Louis - Marathon - Stadium - Athens Olympic Sports Complex - Athletics - Soccer - 2004 Summer Olympics - Athens, Greece - Opening Ceremonies - August 13 - 2004 - August 29

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The stadium was originally completed in 1982. It hosted the 1997 World Championships in Track and Field, 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. The stadium was heavily renovated in time for the Olympics, including a controversial roof designed by Santiago Calatrava that was added atop the sidelines in order to shade fans from the fierce Athens heat. The roof was barely completed in time for the opening of the games, and the stadium was then officially re-opened on July 30, 2004.

Related Topics:
1982 - 1997 - World Championships - Track and Field - 1996 Summer Olympics - Santiago Calatrava - July 30 - 2004

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The stadium will host the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2007.

Related Topics:
UEFA Champions League - 2007

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