- GSP Stadium
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This article is about the new stadium which opened in 1999. For the original stadium which it replaced, see GSP Stadium (1902).
GSP Stadium 
Full name New GSP Stadium Location Nicosia, Cyprus Built 1998 Opened 6 October 1999 Owner Pancyprian Gymnastic Association Architect TDA Architects Project Manager KAL Engineering Structural engineer KAL Engineering Ltd General Contractor Group APC Plc[1] Capacity 22,859 Field dimensions 105m x 68m Tenants APOEL (1999-present)
Omonia (1999-present)
Olympiakos (1999-2008), (2009-present)The Pancyprian Gymnastic Association Stadium (GSP Stadium) (Greek: Στάδιο Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος "Τα Παγκύπρια") is a football stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus. Although small by international standards, it is the largest stadium in Cyprus, with a capacity of 22,859 and was built in 1999. It serves as the home stadium for the Nicosia Clubs of APOEL, Olympiakos Nicosia and Omonia. The Cyprus national football team has also played home games there in the past. It was also the name of the old GSP Stadium which was at the centre of Nicosia with capacity of 12,000.
The new GSP Stadium opened for use on 6 October 1999. The complex has three arenas: a football stadium, an athletics stadium and an auxiliary football pitch intended for training. The stadium is owned by the Pancyprian Gymnastic Association. With an official seating capacity of 22,859 the new GSP is the largest football venue in Cyprus. It is located at the entrance to Nicosia (as approached from the A1 highway) and was inaugurated in 1999 by the then President, Glafcos Clerides and Archbishop Chrysostomos I. The first game held on 6 October 1999 and there was a friendly match between APOEL and Omonia, which ended 3-3.
Since then, the stadium is not only the home of Nicosian teams but usually of Cyprus national football team. During the World Cup 2006 qualifying round it was used as home for all matches of Cyprus. The stadium is the only one in Cyprus which satisfies UEFA Criteria. For this reason since 2004 it is used as home for all the teams of Cyprus in European Cups. Annually, the stadium hosts the Cyprus FA Shield (Super Cup). Also until 2005, it was hosting annually the Cypriot Cup final.
In 2002 the stadium was home for Israeli clubs for the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League matches. It hosted the UEFA Cup quarter final (as home for Hapoel Tel Aviv) between Hapoel Tel Aviv and AC Milan. It was also used by Maccabi Haifa for home stadium for the Champions League Group and Qualifying Round matches and for the UEFA Cup matches. Some matches were attractive for Cypriots like the matches Maccabi Haifa-Olympiacos CFP and Maccabi Haifa-Manchester United, since those two Maccabi's rivals are very popular in Cyprus.
It's the only stadium in Cyprus build only for track & field games. In addition with the hotel, it provides a full training centre solution for athletes all over the world. During the Olympic Games of Athens 2004 many athletes from different countries used the stadium for training.
In 2001 Bruno Zauli, took place here with great success.
The attendance record for the football stadium is 23,043 for a Cypriot championship game between APOEL and Omonia on December 7, 2002.[2]
Anorthosis Famagusta have their UEFA Champions League matches held at the GSP for the 2008-09 season.
The GSP Stadium also hosted all home matches of APOEL in 2009-10 Champions League group D. All matches were sold out by APOEL's fans.
Contents
Average attendances
GSP exterior
Season APOEL Olympiakos Omonia 2010/11 9,418 1,587 7,799 2009/10 7,582 461 (2nd Div.) 9,070 2008/09 7,670 Makario Stadium 9,295 2007/08 7,239 1,692 5,967 2006/07 8,932 1,563 6,678 2005/06 7,460 1,703 8,557 2004/05 7,714 1,981 6,535 2003/04 8,387 1,911 11,003 2002/03 8,205 2,761 10,877 2001/02 7,604 1,959 7,825 2000/01 3,893 2,201 8,620 1999/2000 3,718 1,505 4,693 Source: European Football Statistics
Attributes
Stand Capacity Entrance Gates West Stand 7.818 6 East Stand 4.939 4 North Stand 4.749 4 South Stand 4.953 4 VIP Boxes 400 1 Total 22.859 19 GSP Athletic Centre includes :
GSP Football Stadium
- Weight Lifting Room
- Lockers (Fully Equipped)
- Doping Control Room
- Referees Lockers
- Delegate Room
- Indoor Warm Up Area
- Conference Rooms
- Secretarial facilities
- Restaurant
- Cafeteria
- Storage Rooms
- Press room
- First Aid Room (fully equipped) - Medical Center
- Physiotherapy room
- Press Room
- VIP Boxes
- Special seats for disabled people
- Air Conditioning
- Central Heating
- Fire Alarm
- Telecommunication services
- Internet Services - Wi-Fi Internet Access
- CCTV
- Matrix Screen
- Pitch Size = 105m x 68m
- Lighting = 1400 lux
- VIP Private Boxes = 31
- Press Seats = 200 Seats
- Parking Place = 2000 cars
- Annual Events = 100 - 110 events
Outdoors and yet covered, the Stadium Square offers the best of both worlds, for large-scale activities of any kind. Located between the football stadium and the track and field stadium, this vast space provides maximum flexibility, as it can be furnished and equipped, decorated or divided as required for each event. Providing ample space for activities, catering and live DJ events - with or without paid entrance facilities - the Stadium square lends itself to:
- Full-scale parties, christenings or weddings
- Concerts
- Exhibitions
- Fun fair and bazaars
GSP Track and Field Stadium- Capacity = 5200 Seats
- IAAF Certificate = Class A
- Lighting = 800 lux
Includes :
- Weight Lifting Room - Gym
- Indoor warm up area
- Photofinish installations
- Lockers (fully equipped)
- Doping Control Room
- Physiotherapy Room
- Snack bars/canteens/restaurants
- Storage Rooms
- First Aid Room (fully equipped)
- Press Room
- Telecommunication services
- Special seats for disabled people
- Air Conditioning
- Central Heating
- CCTV
GSP Hotel
It includes :
- 34 Double Rooms (Athletes)
- 4 Double Rooms (Trainers)
- 2 Single Rooms (Disabled people)
- 2 Double Rooms (Disabled people)
- Reception
- Conference Rooms
- Meeting Rooms
- Play Room
- TV Room
- Restaurant
- Cafeteria
- Training Fields
- Gym
- Lockers
- Massage Rooms
- Therapy pools
- Doping Control Room
- Medical Center
- Air Condition
- Central Heating
- Wi-Fi Internet Access
- Telephone - In every room
- TV - In every room
- Parking
The Club
The Gymnastic Association Pancypria was founded in 1894 with the initiative of the lawyer Theofanis Theodotou and the doctors Antonios Theodotou and Aristofanis Fenievs. Excellent athletes of GSP who won significant victories not only in Cyprus but abroad as well, brightened this stadium with their presence. GSP was linked with classic athletes of the capital and became the expresser (spirit) of the track and field.
In 1896 the G.S. Pancypria participated in the A' Pancyprian Games which took place in the G.S. Olympia Stadium in Limassol. Since then it has participated in all pancyprian games because the Pancyprian Games became a significant national feast for Cyprus, during which the stadium, where the games were taking place, was decorated with Greek flags and the national desires were proclaimed .
The athletes of GSP were declared winners of the Pancyprian Games and other games that took place in Cyprus, many times. Many of them were qualified periodically and sent abroad where they accomplished great victories.
External links
References
- ^ http://www.apco.com.cy/Portal.aspx?PageID=23&ItemVID=116&CiD=74&PiD=156
- ^ "Ticket Salges Statistics at GSP Stadium". Archived from the original on 2008-06-04. http://web.archive.org/web/20080604013656/http://www.gsp.org.cy/Ticket+Menu+Statistics+en.html. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
Coordinates: 35°6′52.35″N 33°21′46.31″E / 35.1145417°N 33.3628639°E
Indoor Arenas Spyros Kyprianou Athletic Center • Eleftheria Indoor Hall • Aphroditi Sports HallCategories:- Athletics venues in Cyprus
- Music venues in Cyprus
- National stadiums
- Sport in Nicosia
- Football venues in Cyprus
- Sports venues in Cyprus
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