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Olympic Stadium (Moscow arena)
Encyclopedia
Olympic Stadium, known locally as the Olimpiyskiy or Olimpiski, is a large indoor arena, located in Moscow, Russia. It was built for the 1980 Summer Olympics
and hosted the basketball
and boxing
events. A part of the Olimpiyskiy Sports Complex, it makes up one architectural ensemble with another venue, constructed at the same time, the Swimming Pool
. The venue is so large, that up to 80,000 people can occupy its space. It has hosted the Davis Cup
finals and Bandy World Championships
on several occasions, and is the home of the Kremlin Cup
tournament. It was the world's 1st indoor bandy
arena. When smaller indoor sports are held at the venue, such as tennis
or basketball
, only 1/4 of the floor space is used. Capacity at this configuration can vary between 10,000 and 16,000 people.
The arena hosted the 1999 FIBA EuroStars
game and the 2005
Euroleague
Final Four
. The stadium can hold up to 16,000 people for televised events.
were scheduled to perform, on two consecutive nights, during their Psycho Circus Tour
on April 1–2, 1999, but the shows were cancelled.
The stadium was the venue for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
.
During the summer of 2009, French diva and superstar Mylène Farmer
performed at the arena, in front of 20,000 people, in one of her huge and very impressive shows, 10 years after her latest coming in Russia, her Mylenium Tour
.
Russian metal band Aria
sold out the arena for its 25 Anniversary concert. Aria ex-members were the opening bands.
Muse
played a sold out show in the arena on May 22, 2011.
Roger Waters, founder of Pink Floyd
, played The Wall
here in its entirety, in his famous 2010-2011 The Wall Live tour. The show was fully sold out, and was attended by the likes of Konstanin Nikolsky, Andrey Makareivch, and David Tukhmanov
. The spectacle was the most expensive performance staged on Russian soil.
The original Black Sabbath
lineup will perform their first show in 7 years here on May 18, 2012.
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
and hosted the basketball
Basketball at the 1980 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 1980 Summer Olympics was held from July 20 to July 30 at the Olympiiski Indoor Stadium and at the CSKA Sports Palace, both located in Moscow. Finals of both men's and women's events were held 30 July at the Olympiiski Indoor Stadium....
and boxing
Boxing at the 1980 Summer Olympics
Boxing at the 1980 Summer Olympics took place in the Indoor Stadium of the Olympiski Sports Complex in Moscow. The boxing schedule began on 20 July and ended on 2 August...
events. A part of the Olimpiyskiy Sports Complex, it makes up one architectural ensemble with another venue, constructed at the same time, the Swimming Pool
Swimming Pool at the Olimpiysky Sports Complex
The Swimming Pool at the Olimpiysky Sports Complex is a covered swimming centre in Moscow, Russia. The venue, built for the 1980 Summer Olympics, makes up the Olimpiysky Sports Complex architectural ensemble together with the Olimpiysky Arena. During the Olympics, it hosted the swimming, diving,...
. The venue is so large, that up to 80,000 people can occupy its space. It has hosted the Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
finals and Bandy World Championships
Bandy World Championships
The Bandy World Championships are a competition between bandy-playing nations. The tournament is administrated by the Federation of International Bandy....
on several occasions, and is the home of the Kremlin Cup
Kremlin Cup
The Kremlin Cup is a professional tennis tournament played on indoor hard courts. It is currently part of the ATP World Tour 250 series of the ATP Tour and is a Premier Tournament on the WTA Tour...
tournament. It was the world's 1st indoor bandy
Bandy
Bandy is a team winter sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a ball into the opposing team's goal.The rules of the game have many similarities to those of association football: the game is played on a rectangle of ice the same size as a football field. Each team has 11 players,...
arena. When smaller indoor sports are held at the venue, such as tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
or 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...
, only 1/4 of the floor space is used. Capacity at this configuration can vary between 10,000 and 16,000 people.
The arena hosted the 1999 FIBA EuroStars
FIBA EuroStars
FIBA EuroStars was an annual event organized by FIBA Europe as a showcase basketball match from 1996 until 1999, inclusive.Seen by many to be the European answer to NBA All-Star Game, FIBA EuroStars featured that season's best players from Euroleague, a competition that was at the time still...
game and the 2005
Euroleague 2004-05
The Euroleague is an international basketball club competition for elite clubs throughout Europe. The 2004–2005 season featured 24 competing teams from 13 different countries...
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...
Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
. The stadium can hold up to 16,000 people for televised events.
Notable events
KISSKISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
were scheduled to perform, on two consecutive nights, during their Psycho Circus Tour
Psycho Circus Tour
Psycho Circus Tour was a Kiss concert tour in 1998-1999. It was the first concert tour in history to have 3-D visual effects. One notable show on the tour was the March 12 Bremen, Germany show. After the opening song, Paul Stanley announced that the local fire marshall had banned Kiss from using...
on April 1–2, 1999, but the shows were cancelled.
The stadium was the venue for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Eurovision Song Contest 2009
The Eurovision Song Contest 2009 was the 54th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and was hosted by Russia after their win in 2008. It took place between 12 and 16 May 2009 at the Olympic Indoor Arena in Moscow, Russia....
.
During the summer of 2009, French diva and superstar Mylène Farmer
Mylène Farmer
Mylène Farmer, , born Marie-Hélène Jeanne Gautier, , , is a French singer, songwriter, occasional actress and author....
performed at the arena, in front of 20,000 people, in one of her huge and very impressive shows, 10 years after her latest coming in Russia, her Mylenium Tour
Mylenium Tour
Mylènium Tour is the third live album by Mylène Farmer, released on December 5, 2000.-Background:After having ending her third successful tour whose last shows were held in Russia on March 7, 2000, Farmer rested, and then decided to release an album and a DVD retracing her concert...
.
Russian metal band Aria
Aria (band)
Aria is a Russian heavy metal band that was formed in 1985 in Moscow. Although it was not the first Soviet band to play Heavy music, Aria was the first to break through to mainstream media and commercial success. According to several public polls, Aria ranks among top 10 most popular Russian rock...
sold out the arena for its 25 Anniversary concert. Aria ex-members were the opening bands.
Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
played a sold out show in the arena on May 22, 2011.
Roger Waters, founder of Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, played The Wall
The Wall
The Wall is the eleventh studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd. Released as a double album on 30 November 1979, it was subsequently performed live with elaborate theatrical effects, and adapted into a feature film, Pink Floyd—The Wall.As with the band's previous three...
here in its entirety, in his famous 2010-2011 The Wall Live tour. The show was fully sold out, and was attended by the likes of Konstanin Nikolsky, Andrey Makareivch, and David Tukhmanov
David Tukhmanov
David Fyodorovich Tukhmanov ; Soviet-Armenian music composer.Best known for a number of Soviet hits like Victory Day and the Last Electrichka.-See also:*Vesyolye Rebyata*Jaak Joala*Igor Talkov*Valeri Leontiev*Sofia Rotaru...
. The spectacle was the most expensive performance staged on Russian soil.
The original Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
lineup will perform their first show in 7 years here on May 18, 2012.