stadia.gr/forum

Christos 7 · Junior Member Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 95

Well guys, the west arch is done. The red supports are being taken down (only 1 remains form what I can see) and then tomorrow on Friday, the slideing will begin.

Lets all hope it goes well, this is going to be on my wind until it is in place.

Some new pics (2 days ago)

LETS HOPE IT GOES WELL!

Guest · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 8:39 am Post subject:

that is fantastic news .... When do you think that the roof will be raised??????? i hope that everything will go wihout a hitch.. Very Happy

UWG · Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 4:07 am Post subject:

The web cam went crazy today. It must have taken 30 pictures. That must be an indication that the time is getting near. Everyone needs to check out the new photos that were posted by ioanni31 in the Greek forum for the Olympic Stadium..

rskl7221 · New Member Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 56

Has this part of the forum died???

abc123 · Guest

Yea pretty much. Crying or Very sad

I would suggest going to the Athens 2004 forum at skyscrapercity.com for more up to date posts and news. Or you can go to the greek forum here if you know how to read. greek.

Christos 7 · Junior Member Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 95

ax sorry guys, I totally forgot about this section! So much has been happening, it takes all of your focus. I will try and update soon....

Christos 7 · Junior Member Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 95

Some new pics from Daniilidis.gr, ana.gr and gettyimages.com

Olympic Stadium

Velodrome

Agora

OAKA (really starting to take shape)

And ofcourse the huge news, the Western arch has begun it's slide! It happened yesterday, and they say it should be in place in the next couple days, soaring over the Stadium.... awsome!!

It has officially begun!!!

Toasted with Wine, Olympic Roof Rises at Last

By Karolos Grohmann

ATHENS (Reuters) - Cheered by euphoric workers and toasted with Greek wine, the Olympic Stadium's roof began its long-awaited slide into position on Monday in what is being hailed as a major turning point for the image of the August Games.

Watched by top International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials on their final inspection of the city, the first of two arches that will hold an 18,000-ton steel and carbon panel roof above the stadium in an Athens suburb began its centimeter by centimeter journey into position.

Over the coming days, the second arch will also be moved into position at the opposite end of the stadium so the latticed blue translucent roof, some of it already attached to the arches, can cover the 55,000 seat arena.

"Today we won the first bet," said deputy culture minister Fani Palli-Petralia, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis's personal appointee in charge of catching up on badly delayed preparations.

Palli-Petralia broke a bottle of Greek white wine over the bottom of the arch seconds before machinery was set in motion to move the 70 meter high structure.

"UNIQUE GAMES"

Wine was also passed around dozens of workers who cheered and slapped each other on the back as the arch, about as tall as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, started its journey into position.

"Now we have the big bet to host a unique and safe Games," Palli-Petralia told more than 50 journalists present at the dusty construction site for the most anticipated -- and feared -- project after years of building.

"Today we responded to those who doubted that Greece can host unique Games. We are going to prove to them that Greece can do it."

The dome, designed by acclaimed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, will spread across the stadium like a giant spider's web lighting up the night in what many architects regard as an engineering challenge which bordered on the impossible because of the weights involved.

The roof slide started 10 days before a May 20 deadline set by the IOC which had warned if it was not underway by then the project would be canceled and the Games would go ahead without a roof over the stadium.

"The start (of the first arch) went really well. We've done 10 centimeters without trouble and estimate it will be fully in position in about 12 hours," said Nikos Louridas, a spokesman for the main contractor involved in the project.
As well as protecting the stadium from rain, the roof's carbon panels will provide protection against soaring summer heat during the August 13-29 Games and has crucial broadcasting and surveillance cameras attached to it.

The successful start to the erection of the roof was much-needed good news for Athens Games organizers who, at the start of the 100 day countdown last Wednesday, once again found themselves under fire when three bombs went off outside an Athens police station.

More than half of the venues, as well as major infrastructure projects including new train and tram lines, are still many weeks from completion unlike for previous Games when most preparations were in place months before the opening ceremony.

Builders are working round the clock to meet deadlines and the IOC has said that thanks to the new frantic pace they expect all arrangements to be in place.

However the delays in major construction projects in the early years of preparations, mainly caused by political infighting, have meant some projects have been trimmed and landscaping work curtailed.

Amazing big size photos:

http://ana.gr/cgi-bin/hgetimgwww.jpg?-h758784
http://ana.gr/cgi-bin/hgetimgwww.jpg?-h758836
http://ana.gr/cgi-bin/hgetimgwww.jpg?-h758835
http://ana.gr/cgi-bin/hgetimgwww.jpg?-h758773

rskl7221 · New Member Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 56

Efharisto Christos

ego ime ellinifonos, esto ke sto epipedo kata tis ektis dimotikis...just thinking of our non- Greek speaking friends - I'm sure they'll appreciate the updates.
Cheers

UWG · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 8:36 pm Post subject:

The latest news is that there is only about ten meters untill it is in place. These pics were taken by another member at 1:00 p.m. Greek time...
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/ypsilon/20759/258635/0/IMG_0013.JPG
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/ypsilon/20759/258637/0/IMG_0015.JPG
They have started to place the final material on top of the Velodrome..
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/ypsilon/20759/258640/0/IMG_0021.JPG

Christos 7 · Junior Member Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 95

Finished.

Go to Athens2004.com for an amazing video of the sliding.

Christos 7 · Junior Member Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 95

pics from www.daniilidis.gr

Olympic Stadium!

Velodrome

OAKA Complex

__________________

www.greeksoccer.com

Ziaka · Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 8:37 pm Post subject:

Cool pics Chris. We are slowly getting there. Cool

--------------------------------------------
Greek Soccer TV Schedules: http://sports.phantis.com/soccer/games/TV_schedules.html
Greek Soccer Discussion: http://clubs.phantis.com/sports/

savroulis · Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 9:48 pm Post subject:

i f you call this slowly!!!! then I wouldn't like to see what would be fast for you!!!
cheers mate

AEK Australia · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 3:16 am Post subject:

Hi guys,
Can any of you give us an update on the other roof, as it has been ages that this section of the english part has been updated, how is the feel around greece? Are they confident of making it in time?

UWG · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 4:24 am Post subject:

They are suppose to move it in the next few days. As one can see in the last picture they have disassembled the two towers that were supporting the second half of the roof. It is important to say that all the problems that they had in the past with the soil been too weak were located on the side that they are about to move. On a good note the panels are been installed at a very quick pace on both half of the roof. Here are some pictures that a member took from this past Friday.

http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/contents/ioannis325/22670o
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/contents/ioannis325/22670o
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/contents/ioannis324/22671o

[/url]http://www2.bung-ag.de/webcams_bung/archiv/bilder/curim_040602_104800.jpg[url][/url]

exitmusician · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 8:43 am Post subject:

AEK Australia

There is not a single worry anymore, not only by Greek officials and people but by international officials as well, that every venue and infrastructure project will be 100% ready on time provided that the fast pace is maintained.

Atlanta Greek · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 6:56 pm Post subject:

The eastern half of the roof started moving at 4pm local time today.

UWG · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 11:21 pm Post subject:

To be exact, today they moved it 17,5 meters..

AEK Australia · Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2004 2:36 am Post subject:

Great to hear!!
It's sooooooo exciting!!
I cant wait till i'm next in Greece probably in a year or 2 to check it all out!!
I wish i was there right now!!!
Go Greece!!!

Christos 7 · Junior Member Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 95

i'm going to be there later this month. Laughing

Can't wait to see this beauty in person....

PAVEL_13 · Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2004 9:44 am Post subject:

First Day 20 meters!!!! Very Happy

See it sliding!!!! Shocked

This is a gif(t)! Laughing

a miracle!!! Like moving the furniture in your home!!!! Wink

Christos 7 · Junior Member Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 95

Finished. Very emotional and proud day... Smile

SLIDING (see above)

AERIAL:

INSIDE:

UWG · Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 9:45 pm Post subject:

Especially in the second pic, the roof looks amazing but it also looks like they have a ton of work to do around the stadium with only a handful of days left. I hope that they don't butcher the plans that they had for the grounds around the stadium.

Ziaka · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2004 7:25 pm Post subject:

UWG, it sure looks nice in that picture. Also in couple of days, the Greek track & field championships will take place at the stadium (June 10-12), so we will see how ready the stadium is.
--------------------------------------------
Greek Soccer TV Schedules: http://sports.phantis.com/soccer/games/TV_schedules.html
Greek Soccer Discussion: http://clubs.phantis.com/sports/

AEK Australia · Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 8:07 am Post subject:

hi there guys,
there use to be heaps of pictures of the olympic complex with aerials and different angles, but it seems as though they have stopped, in recent times, i do check the greek pages and havent seen much there.
I know it is a great time for Greece in Euro 2004, trust me i have watched every game and loved it (even though it's at 4am in the morning...) is that the reason why it's been a bit quiet on the photographic part?