O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall

Telekom Arena
Athens Olympic Indoor Hall
Full name	Indoor Sports Center of O.A.C.A.
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
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 Telekom Arena^[2], previously known as Olympic Indoor Hall of O.A.C.A. , also known as Telekom Arena, 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, in the northern section of Athens. During its construction, it was considered to be one of the biggest and most modern indoor sports arenas in all of Europe.

The 18,300-capacity arena^[3] also contains a training facility.

In 2023, Panathinaikos B.C. signed an agreement with the Greek state for a 49-year concession of the venue,^[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., which specializes in facilities services.

Construction

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

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

The 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

On 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

References

^ "HOME". paobc.gr. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
^ https://www.sport24.gr/basket/panathinaikos-aktor-to-oaka-allazei-kai-ginetai-telekom-arena-meta-apo-megalo-deal-me-ton-germaniko-kolosso.10418044.html
^ "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

Events and tenants
Preceded by Olympiahalle Munich	FIBA EuroBasket Final Venue 1995	Succeeded by Palau Sant Jordi Barcelona
Preceded by Palatrussardi Milan	FIBA Intercontinental Cup Final Venue 1996	Succeeded by Ginásio José Corrêa Barueri, São Paulo
Preceded by SkyDome Toronto	FIBA World Cup Final Venue 1998	Succeeded by Conseco Fieldhouse Indianapolis
Preceded by Palace of Sports Kyiv	Eurovision Song Contest Venue 2006	Succeeded by Hartwall Areena Helsinki
Preceded by Sazka Arena Prague	EuroLeague Final Four Venue 2007	Succeeded by Palacio de Deportes Madrid
Preceded by Santiago Martín La Laguna	FIBA Champions League Final Four Venue 2018	Succeeded by Sportpaleis Antwerp
Preceded by Fernando Buesa Arena Vitoria-Gasteiz	EuroLeague Final Four Venue 2020	Succeeded by TBD

38°02′16″N 23°47′05″E / 38.037862°N 23.784676°E / 38.037862; 23.784676

[1] "HOME". paobc.gr. Retrieved 13 January 2024.

[2] ttps://www.sport24.gr/basket/panathinaikos-aktor-to-oaka-allazei-kai-ginetai-telekom-arena-meta-apo-megalo-deal-me-ton-germaniko-kolosso.10418044.html

[3] "HOME". paobc.gr. Retrieved 13 January 2024.

[4] 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)

[5] "Greek Ministry of Culture & Sports".

[6] Stadia.gr Olympic Sports Hall.

[7] "Venue Stadium O.A.K.A. Olympic Indoor Hall Capacity 19443 City Athens, Greece". Επίσημος ιστότοπος του ΟΑΚΑ. Retrieved 19 December 2023.

[8] "Venue Stadium O.A.K.A. Olympic Indoor Hall Capacity 19443 City Athens, Greece". Επίσημος ιστότοπος του ΟΑΚΑ. Retrieved 19 December 2023.

[9] Capacity

[10] Capacity

[11] 2004 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 2. pp. 273, 329, 346.

[12] PR N°58 – Meeting of the FIBA Central Board in Chicago. FIBA.com

[13] Germany basketball clinches Olympic berth.

[14] "Panathinaikos is set to use OAKA for the next 49 years". eurohoops.

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