Olympic Indoor Hall
Encyclopedia
The O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall (also known simply as the Indoor Hall or the Olympic Sports Hall) which is part of the Olympic Athletic Center of Athens
(O.A.C.A.) "Spiros Louis" (in ), was completed in 1995 and was the largest indoor venue in use for sporting events at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens, Greece. It is located in the suburb of Maroussi. It is considered to be one of the biggest and most modern indoor sports arenas in all of Europe. In Greece it is known as the O.A.K.A. Indoor Hall and/or the O.A.K.A. Olympic Sports Hall.
roof that features four huge pillars, each 35 meters tall that stand 108 meters apart from each other. According to the Greek Ministry of Sports, 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.
The arena seats up to 17,600 for gymnastics events, although only 12,500 seats were made publicly available for the gymnastics at the 2004 Olympics. It seats 19,250 for basketball games, which includes 18,500 seats for the fans, 300 seats for media members, and 450 seats for VIPs.
and trampolining
, and also hosted the finals of the basketball
matches at the 2004 Summer Olympics
. Renovation of the building for the Olympics was completed on June 30, 2004, and it was officially reopened on August 10, 2004, shortly before the beginning of the games.
professional basketball
club Panathinaikos Athens, as well as the home court for Maroussi Athens for European cup matches. AEK Athens also plays home games at the arena when they have European cup matches. It is also the primary home court of the Greek National Basketball Team.
On May 4 and 6, 2007, the Indoor Hall hosted the Euroleague
2006-07 season
Final Four, the semifinal and final rounds of Europe's principal pro club competition in basketball, which saw hometown favorite Panathinaikos win the title.
On December 9, 2007, FIBA announced that the Olympic Indoor Hall was selected as the host of the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2008 Olympics Basketball Tournament
. At the qualifying tournament, hosts and favorites Greece
, alongside with the German
and Croatian
national basketball teams, qualified for the final 2008 Olympic Basketball Tournament.
, 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.
Also, Jennifer Lopez
, Bjork
, Beyoncé
, Roger Waters
, Aloha from Hell
, Tokio Hotel
, Helena Paparizou, Sakis Rouvas
among others have performed there.On early 2011 Anna Vissi performed a benefit concert with the support of Panathinaikos F.C.
Athens Olympic Sports Complex
The Olympic Athletic Center of Athens "Spiros Louis" or OACA , is a sport facilities complex located at Marousi, northeast Athens, Greece...
(O.A.C.A.) "Spiros Louis" (in ), was completed in 1995 and was the largest indoor venue in use for sporting events at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens, Greece. It is located in the suburb of Maroussi. It is considered to be one of the biggest and most modern indoor sports arenas in all of Europe. In Greece it is known as the O.A.K.A. Indoor Hall and/or the O.A.K.A. Olympic Sports Hall.
Construction
It is notable for the distinctive A-frameA-Frame
An A-frame is a basic structure designed to bear a load in a lightweight economical manner. The simplest form of an A-frame is two similarly sized beams, arranged in a 45-degree or greater angle, attached at the top...
roof that features four huge pillars, each 35 meters tall that stand 108 meters apart from each other. According to the Greek Ministry of Sports, 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.
The arena seats up to 17,600 for gymnastics events, although only 12,500 seats were made publicly available for the gymnastics at the 2004 Olympics. It seats 19,250 for basketball games, which includes 18,500 seats for the fans, 300 seats for media members, and 450 seats for VIPs.
2004 Athens Summer Olympics
The arena was used for artistic gymnasticsGymnastics at the 2004 Summer Olympics
At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, three disciplines of gymnastics were contested: artistic gymnastics , rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline...
and trampolining
Gymnastics at the 2004 Summer Olympics
At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, three disciplines of gymnastics were contested: artistic gymnastics , rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline...
, and also hosted the finals of the basketball
Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena in Athens, Greece for the preliminary rounds, with the latter stages being held in the Olympic Indoor Hall at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex....
matches at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
. Renovation of the building for the Olympics was completed on June 30, 2004, and it was officially reopened on August 10, 2004, shortly before the beginning of the games.
Basketball use
The Indoor Hall is the regular home court for the Greek A1 LeagueA1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
club Panathinaikos Athens, as well as the home court for Maroussi Athens for European cup matches. AEK Athens also plays home games at the arena when they have European cup matches. It is also the primary home court of the Greek National Basketball Team.
On May 4 and 6, 2007, the Indoor Hall hosted the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
2006-07 season
Euroleague 2006-07
The Euroleague is an international basketball club competition for elite clubs throughout Europe. The 2006-2007 season featured 24 competing teams from 13 different countries. The draw for the groups was held on September 14, 2006 in Athens. The competition began on October 24, 2006 at the Olympic...
Final Four, the semifinal and final rounds of Europe's principal pro club competition in basketball, which saw hometown favorite Panathinaikos win the title.
On December 9, 2007, FIBA announced that the Olympic Indoor Hall was selected as the host of the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2008 Olympics Basketball Tournament
Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Basketball contests at the 2008 Olympic Games were held from August 9, 2008 to August 24, 2008. Competitions were held at the Wukesong Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China...
. At the qualifying tournament, hosts and favorites Greece
Greece national basketball team
The Greece national basketball team is the representative for Greece in international men's basketball competitions, organized and run by the Hellenic Basketball Federation. Traditionally, Greece is considered among the world's top basketball powers; they were runners-up in the 2006 FIBA World...
, alongside with the German
Germany national basketball team
The German national basketball team for men is the basketball side that represents Germany in international competitions. Their biggest successes are the victory in the European Championship of 1993 at home in Germany, the silver medal in the 2005 European Championships and the bronze medal in the...
and Croatian
Croatia national basketball team
The Croatian national basketball team represents Croatia at international tournaments. It is organized by the Croatian Basketball Federation...
national basketball teams, qualified for the final 2008 Olympic Basketball Tournament.
Musical events
On May 18 and 20, 2006, the Olympic Indoor Hall hosted the 51st Eurovision Song ContestEurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
, that was held in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
after Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
's victory at the Song Contest in 2005. There were 15,000 seats available for spectators, both for the semifinal and the grand final.
Also, Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
, Bjork
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
, Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
, Aloha from Hell
Aloha from Hell
Aloha from Hell was a German rock band. They won a competition in the German magazine Bravo. After the win they released "Don't Gimme That." Their first album, No More Days to Waste, sold more than 200,000 copies.- History :...
, Tokio Hotel
Tokio Hotel
Tokio Hotel is a pop rock band from Germany, founded in 2001 by singer Bill Kaulitz, guitarist Tom Kaulitz, drummer Gustav Schäfer and bassist Georg Listing...
, Helena Paparizou, Sakis Rouvas
Sakis Rouvas
Anastasios "Sakis" Rouvas II , often referred to mononymously as Sakis, is a Greek musician, television and film artist, businessman, and former pole vaulter who is one of the most successful and influential entertainers of all time in Greece and Cyprus...
among others have performed there.On early 2011 Anna Vissi performed a benefit concert with the support of Panathinaikos F.C.