FACILITIES - KAFTANZOGLIO STADIUM
Kaftanzoglio stadium, in which the World Athletics Final “Thessaloniki 2009” will be held, was inaugurated on 27th October 1960, being the most luxurious stadium of south-eastern Europe at that time. Yet today, Kaftanzoglio still is one of the best stadiums in the Balkans, thanks to its reconstruction for the 2004 Olympic Games. In fact, the first event of those Olympics, the men’s football match between Greece and Korea Republic on 11th August 2004, was held in Kaftanzoglio.
The stadium has a capacity of 27.770 seats. 12% of those are roofed, while there are 670 VIP seats, 150 seats for photographers and 390 seats for press.
Kaftanzoglio stadium, which serves as home for Iraklis football team, has hosted various important sporting events in the past, such as the football Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1973 between Italian side AC Milan and English Leeds United, some events of the 11th Mediterranean Games in 1991, as well as quite a few football matches of the Olympic Games in 2004.
Athletics has had, too, an important role in Kaftanzoglio stadium in the course of the years. The stadium hosted the 1st Division (for both men and women) of the European Cup of Athletics in 2006. Also, Kaftanzoglio is the place where the Thessaloniki international meeting is held every summer for the last 11 years -except for the time when the stadium was temporarily closed due to the reconstruction for the Olympic Games. In addition, this year (August 2009) the stadium hosted the Greek national athletics championships for men, women and for U23 athletes, for the first time after some 25 years.
The warm up area is located adjacent to the Kaftatzoglio Stadium.
The facility was upgraded in 2004 during the Olympic Games held in Athens Greece. New electromechanical and electronic infrastructure and equipment was placed in the venue.
Kaftanzoglio Stadium Official Website:
http://www.kaftanzoglio.gr/en/index.html
