OAKA Basketball Arena[2], previously known as Olympic Indoor Hall of O.A.C.A., is a part of the Spyros Louis Olympic Athletic Center of Athens (Greek: O.A.K.A. «Σπύρος Λούης»). It was completed in 1994 and is the largest indoor venue in Greece. It was used for sporting events at the 2004 Summer Olympics. The venue is located in Marousi, a northern suburb of Athens. During its construction, it was considered to be one of the biggest and most modern indoor sports arenas in all of Europe.
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| Full name | OAKA Basketball Arena |
|---|---|
| Location | Athens Olympic Sports Complex, Marousi, Athens, Greece |
| Coordinates | 38°02′16″N 23°47′05″E / 38.037862°N 23.784676°E |
| Public transit |   Eirini |
| Owner | Panathinaikos B.C. |
| Operator | Panathinaikos B.C. |
| Capacity | Gymnastics: 17,600 Basketball: 18,300[1] |
| Surface | Glass floor |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1994 |
| Renovated | 2002–2004 (Olympic Games) 2023–present |
| Construction cost | 15-18 million € for the current renovation |
| Architect | Santiago Calatrava (2004 renovation) Populous (current renovation) |
| General contractor | Aktor S.A. |
| Tenants | |
| Panathinaikos B.C. | |
The 18,300-capacity arena[3] is accompanied by an adjacent training facility, and a parking lot.
In 2023, Panathinaikos B.C. signed an agreement with the Greek state for a 49-year concession of the asset,[4] making the club the sole tenant and binding it to invest in the renovation of the asset's infrastructure. The club has since transferred the responsibility of managing the venue to White Veil S.A., a company which specializes in venue and facilities management, and is also owned by Dimitris Giannakopoulos.
Construction
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The Olympic Indoor Hall is notable for its distinctive A-frame roof that features four huge pillars, each of which is 35 meters tall, that stand 108 meters apart from each other. According to the Greek Ministry of Sports,[5] it is the largest indoor sporting arena of its kind in the world. The arena is also constructed in a unique way so that an abundant amount of natural light comes into the arena during the day.[6]
The arena seats up to 17,600 for gymnastics events, although only 12,500 seats were made publicly available for the gymnastics competition at the 2004 Olympics. It seats up to 19,443 for basketball games,[7][8] which includes 300 seats for media members,[9] and 189 seats for VIPs.[10]
A large scale arena renovation was completed in 2004, for the 2004 Summer Olympics.
2004 Summer Olympics
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The arena was used for artistic gymnastics and trampolining, and also hosted the finals of the basketball matches at the 2004 Summer Olympics.[11] Renovation of the building for the Olympics was completed on 30 June 2004, and it was officially reopened on 10 August 2004, shortly before the beginning of the games.
Basketball use
editThe Indoor Hall is the regular home court for the Greek Basket League professional basketball club Panathinaikos. It is also the primary home court of the senior Greek National Basketball Team.
The arena was used to host the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals stages of the 1998 FIBA World Championship.
On 4 and 6 May 2007, the Indoor Hall hosted the EuroLeague 2006–07 season's Final Four, the semifinals and finals rounds of Europe's principal pro club competition in basketball, which saw hometown favourite Panathinaikos win the title.
On 9 December 2007, FIBA announced that the Olympic Indoor Hall was selected as the host of the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.[12] At the qualifying tournament, hosts and favourites Greece, along with the German and Croatian national basketball teams, qualified for the final 2008 Olympic Basketball Tournament.[13]
In 2023 Panathinaikos B.C. and the Greek government reached agreement for the exclusive use of the Athens gym for the next 49 years.[14]
Musical events
editOn 18 and 20 May 2006, the Hall hosted the 51st Eurovision Song Contest, that was held in Athens, after Greece's victory at the Song Contest in 2005. There were 15,000 seats available for spectators, both for the semifinal and the grand final.
Some of the entertainers who have performed at the arena include Bryan Adams, Maluma, Rotting Christ, Pearl Jam, Enrique Iglesias, Depeche Mode, Jennifer Lopez, Björk, Beyoncé, Slayer, Roger Waters, Aloha from Hell, Tokio Hotel, Helena Paparizou, Sakis Rouvas, Anna Vissi and Cigarettes After Sex.
Gallery
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "HOME". paobc.gr. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ https://www.cnn.gr/oikonomia/epixeiriseis/story/449969/xrysoxoos-ceo-white-veil-to-orama-tis-etaireias-gia-to-mellon-tou-athlitismoy-kai-tis-psyxagogias
- ^ "HOME". paobc.gr. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ Newsroom (2023-05-03). "Το ΟΑΚΑ στον Παναθηναϊκό: Εγκρίθηκε ομόφωνα το σχέδιο παραχώρησης". CNN.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Greek Ministry of Culture & Sports".
- ^ Stadia.gr Olympic Sports Hall.
- ^ "Venue Stadium O.A.K.A. Olympic Indoor Hall Capacity 19443 City Athens, Greece". Επίσημος ιστότοπος του ΟΑΚΑ. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ "Venue Stadium O.A.K.A. Olympic Indoor Hall Capacity 19443 City Athens, Greece". Επίσημος ιστότοπος του ΟΑΚΑ. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ Capacity
- ^ Capacity
- ^ 2004 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 2. pp. 273, 329, 346.
- ^ PR N°58 – Meeting of the FIBA Central Board in Chicago. FIBA.com
- ^ Germany basketball clinches Olympic berth.
- ^ "Panathinaikos is set to use OAKA for the next 49 years". eurohoops.
External links
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- Olympic Athletic Center of Athens Official Site
- Nikos Galis Indoor Hall
- Nikos Galis Indoor Hall Info And Pictures At Stadia.gr
- Best Indoor Basketball
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | FIBA EuroBasket Final Venue 1995 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FIBA Intercontinental Cup Final Venue 1996 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FIBA World Cup Final Venue 1998 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Eurovision Song Contest Venue 2006 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | EuroLeague Final Four Venue 2007 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FIBA Champions League Final Four Venue 2018 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | EuroLeague Final Four Venue 2020 |
Succeeded by |