The Olympic Stadium in Greece’s capital Athens has been closed until further notice because its roof failed safety tests.
Athens 2004
The venue which can hold nearly 70,000 spectators is the biggest in Greece after undergoing renovation for the Athens 2004 Olympics and Paralympics, where it hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, athletics and football.
It is due to undergo its first renovation since the Games this year, but the Athens Olympic Sports Complex (OAKA) said inspections had found the famous roof designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava was unsafe.
Sole Focus
The Athens Olympic Velodrome at the OAKA, used for track cycling at Athens 2004, has also been closed following similar tests to its roof. A second inspection is set to follow to further investigate the issue, and the OAKA said its “sole focus” is the safety of athletes and fans.
The Hellenic Olympic Committee (EOE) said the OAKA must continue to be “the heart of Greek sports”, and called for safety issues to be resolved quickly.
Safety Issues
“Its firm position is that, in addition to the creation of sports facilities, care must also be taken for their maintenance in order to keep them in the best possible condition and safely host athletes,” it said.
“[The EOE] requests to speed up the procedures and studies for the stability of the Calatrava constructions, in order to immediately start the restoration works – in case they are required – for the smooth and safe operation of the OAKA.”
The Olympic Stadium, opened in 1982 in time for the European Athletics Championships, has hosted several major events including the 1991 Mediterranean Games, 1997 World Athletics Championships and men’s UEFA Champions League finals in 1994 and 2007.
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Source: Inside the Games
