Helsinki Olympic Stadium

Helsingin olympiastadion
Helsingfors Olympiastadion

Stadion
Location	Helsinki, Finland
Coordinates	60°11′13″N 024°55′38″E / 60.18694°N 24.92722°ECoordinates: 60°11′13″N 024°55′38″E / 60.18694°N 24.92722°E
Owner	Stadion-säätiö
Capacity	42,062 (36,000 after 2019 renovation)
Surface	Grass
Construction
Broke ground	1934
Opened	1938
Renovated	2005 and 2015
Closed	2015 for renovation works
Architect	Yrjö Lindegren and Toivo Jäntti
Tenants
Finland national football team 1952 Summer Olympics 1983 World Championships in Athletics 2005 World Championships in Athletics 2012 European Athletics Championships UEFA Women's Euro 2009 (4 Group matches and a Final)

The Olympiastadion (Finnish: Helsingin Olympiastadion; Swedish: Helsingfors Olympiastadion), located in the Töölö district about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the centre of the Finnish capital Helsinki, is the largest stadium in the country, nowadays mainly used for hosting sports events and big concerts. The stadium is best known for being the centre of activities in the 1952 Summer Olympics. During those games, it hosted athletics, equestrian show jumping, and the football finals.

The stadium was also the venue for the first Bandy World Championship in 1957, the first World Athletics Championships in 1983 as well as for the 2005 World Championships in Athletics. It hosted the European Athletics Championships in 1971, 1994 and 2012.

It is also the home stadium of the Finland national football team.

The Stadium has closed temporarily in 2015 for renovation works and will reopen in 2019.

History

Helsinki Olympic Stadium in 1930s.

The Olympic Stadium was designed in functionalistic style by the architects Yrjö Lindegren and Toivo Jäntti. Construction of the Olympic Stadium began in 1934 and it was completed in 1938, with the intent to host the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were moved from Tokyo to Helsinki before being cancelled due to World War II. It hosted the 1952 Summer Olympics over a decade later instead. The stadium was also to be the main venue for the cancelled 1943 Workers' Summer Olympiad.

It was the venue for the first ever Bandy World Championship in 1957.

The stadium was completely modernized in 1990–1994 and also renovated just before the 2005 World Championships in Athletics.

In 2006 an American TV series, The Amazing Race 10, had one of its episodes ending at The Olympic Stadium Tower. As a task, teams had to do a face-first rappel (known as the Angel Dive) down the Helsinki Olympic Tower.

Since March 2007, a Eurasian eagle-owl has been spotted living in and around the stadium. On June 6, 2007, during a Euro 2008 qualifying match, the owl delayed play by ten minutes after perching on a goalpost. The owl was later christened Bubi and was named as Helsinki's Resident of the Year.

The 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Olympic Games hosted in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium was the main motif for one of the first Finnish euro silver commemorative coins, the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Olympic Games commemorative coin, minted in 2002. On the reverse, a view of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium can be seen. On the right, the 500 markka commemorative coin minted in 1952 celebrating the occasion is depicted.

Features

The tower of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, a distinct landmark with a height of 72.71 metres (238.5 ft).

The stadium's spectator capacity was at its maximum during the 1952 Summer Olympics with over 70,000 spectator places. Nowadays the stadium has 40,600 spectator places. During concerts, depending on the size of the stage, the capacity is 45,000–50,000.

The tower of the stadium, a distinct landmark with a height of 72.71 metres (238.5 ft), a measurement of the length of the gold-medal win by Matti Järvinen in javelin throw of 1932 Summer Olympics, is open for visitors and offers impressive views over Helsinki. It is possible to see into the adjacent Sonera Stadium.

A Youth Hostel is located within the Stadium complex.

Future

Major renovation work at the stadium started in the spring of 2016. The stadium will be closed during the construction and will reopen in 2019. During renovation all the spectator stands will be covered with canopies and the field area and the tracks will be renewed. It will also offer extended restaurant areas and more indoor sport venues.^[1]

Projected costs for the renovation is 209 million euros and it will be funded by Finnish state and the city of Helsinki.

Events

Sport events

• 1952 Summer Olympics
• 1957 Bandy World Championship
• 1983 World Championships in Athletics
• 2005 World Championships in Athletics
• UEFA Women's Euro 2009 (4 Group matches and a Final)
• 2012 European Athletics Championships

Concerts

Michael Jackson performed at the stadium during his HIStory World Tour two times; 24 and 26 August 1997.

U2 performed two nights at the stadium during their U2 360° Tour on 20 and 21 August 2010.

Madonna performed at the stadium during her MDNA Tour on 12 August 2012.

Muse performed at the stadium during their The 2nd Law World Tour on 27 July 2013.

Bruce Springsteen has performed at the stadium four times; 16 and 17 June in 2003 during his The Rising Tour, 11 July 2008 during his Magic Tour and 31 July 2012 during his Wrecking Ball Tour.

Bon Jovi have played the stadium as part of their These Days Tour in 1996, Lost Highway Tour in 2008, and in 2011 during The Circle Tour.

Iron Maiden has performed at the stadium three times; 18 July in 2008 during Somewhere Back in Time World Tour, 8 July 2011 during The Final Frontier World Tour and 20 July 2013 during Maiden England World Tour.

One Direction performed at the stadium for the first time on 27 June 2015 during their fourth tour On the Road Again Tour.

References

1. Modernisation and renewal of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium Retrieved on 20 December 2014

Media related to Helsingin olympiastadion at Wikimedia Commons

• 1952 Summer Olympics official report. pp. 44–7.
• Stadion.fi – Official site
• History of the stadium
• Panoramic virtual tour from the stadium tower