The sudden closure of the Olympic Stadium is causing intense concern, while the relevant study indicates significant problems with the stability of the Calatrava roofs. From a symbol of Greece’s recovery in 2004, OAKA turned into a monument of abandonment, as for 20 years no maintenance and repair work was carried out, nor were the required inspections carried out.

In all that time, only once, in 2018, has there been a check on the stability of his upper body following a video that saw the light of day from the AEK-Bayern Champions League match.

However, it is sensational that the report points out that the calculation deficiency is not related to poor workmanship and insufficient connections in the construction phase, but to the ideal structural condition that the Shelter had after its completion.

That is, the problem is detected from the first day it was delivered, but it was aggravated by the existence of significant connection failures, such as cracks in welds.

“It will be a while before the Stadium reopens”

“The canopy has many problems which are obvious, such as rust and loose bolts, and others which have been cut, and have arisen due to poor maintenance, but there are also unseen areas, which are much more dangerous, and need a thorough investigation for their extent and dangerousness”, stressed to SKAI 100.3 the professor of anti-seismic constructions of NTUA Panagiotis Karydis.

He added that the canopy has a permanent oscillation which creates fatigue of the material, and estimated that it will take a while to get the stadium running again.

What does the report say about OAKA?

“The computational deficiency is not related to poor workmanship and insufficient connections in the construction phase, but to the ideal structural condition that the Shelter had after its completion.

»The situation is exacerbated by the existence of significant connection failures (cracks in welds, etc.).

The same is pointed out in the report for the shelter on the cycle track, that is, deficiencies in the ideal structural condition of the shelter (s.s. cycle track) immediately after its completion.

For the inspection of the canopies, a contract was signed in November 2022, for the extensive inspection of the Calatrava metal structures, but also for the polycarbonate canopies.

In fact, last April, the TAIPED announced that the inspection of metal constructions at OAKA was in full progress:

  • Central Stadium Shelter.
  • Cycle Track Shelter.
  • Two entrances.
  • Wall of Nations.
  • Buy.

Many of the facilities of the OAKA built for the Olympic Games – among them the Calatrava canopies – were essentially arbitrary until 2014, as they did not have a building permit, with their regularization taking place in 2014, when 8 million euros were secured for maintenance.

After the publication of the study, for stability problems, there was prosecutorial intervention for any crimes that have been committed.

The Hellenic Olympic Committee requested that the procedures and studies for the stability of the Calatrava constructions be accelerated, in order to immediately start the restoration works – in case they are required – for the smooth and safe operation of the OAKA.

Prosecutorial intervention for the Calatrava shelter

Intervention was noted by the Prosecutor of First Instance of Athens after the publication of a study on the stability of the Calatrava roof at the Olympic Stadium, which resulted in the stadium’s closure.

The head of the Athens District Attorney’s Office, Antonis Eleftherianos, intervened and ordered a public prosecutor’s investigation after it was announced that the project was being checked for its stability due to deficiencies in its maintenance.

The investigation will be conducted for the offenses of serial endangerment and violation of building codes, which are misdemeanor offenses.

The investigation will be conducted by the first instance prosecutor Nikolaos Margaritis, who at the same time performs the duties of a sports prosecutor.

The research will concern every person in charge from today to five years ago.

Vroutsis: “There is no lock on OAKA, the suspension is temporary”

Position on the much-lauded issue that has arisen with the staticity of the Calatrava shelter and the suspension of the OAKA operation, was taken by the Deputy Minister of Sports, Yannis Vroutsis.

Speaking to ERT, he made it known that the study has been transferred to the TEE so that its disputed points can be re-examined, while he expressed the belief that the OAKA will reopen immediately and in a completely safe manner.

In detail what the Deputy Minister of Sports stated:

“This is not a lock on OAKA but a temporary suspension of its operation. I understand and we are already working here at the ministry in collaboration with all sports bodies for the organizational suffering they will suffer and we are in constant contact with them. Already today, we have transferred the entire study to the TEE, which is the institutional and technical advisor of each government, so that we can look again in detail with scientists from the Polytechnic University of the disputed points of the study, which indeed when it came into my hands yesterday showed insufficient stability in the OAKA and the bike track”.

For the reopening time of OAKA: “It will restart in a completely safe manner. We will do our best. It is the emblematic stadium of our country, it is the heart of sports, we will make every effort, we will put everything in our power to reopen it as soon as possible with one condition: it will reopen in a completely safe way.

The study is quite large. There are elements involved which I do not want to develop because it is not of particular interest to the world at the moment. In any case, what interests the world is the reaction of the government, which in a responsible manner, instantly, worked in favor of the fans, the athletes and the sports world in general. This is important, everything else is a matter of re-evaluation of the study by the TEE”.

On why there have been no checks since there was video showing the stands swaying at OAKA: “The swaying of the field has nothing to do with the Calatrava canopies. Nothing to do with. It is an oscillation that was found in 2017 in a match that took place inside the OAKA. A study was then done on the stability of the stadium and it was found that the stadium is adequate in terms of its stability. So the issue currently circulating in the mass media and social media is beside the point.

I cannot analyze the past, historically I will only tell you that the Samara government through my predecessor Yiannis Andrianou actually secured 8 million euros to carry out this specific study. This particular study was not done because the government changed. Regarding this government, I must tell you that it is the first government in 20 years, the prime minister himself, who took the decision and allocated 57 million euros from the Recovery Fund for the complete upgrade of the entire OAKA, perimeter, lighting, energy upgrade and of course the roof.

Evaluation of roofs in terms of static adequacy. So, while these studies are running and the 57 million for the country’s sports within the emblematic area of ​​OAKA, one of the studies that was taken by the sponsoring company, a consortium, brought out the results just the day before yesterday. So the reaction from the day before yesterday until last night when we closed the OAKA was immediate, putting and showing that for us there is nothing other than the supreme good of the safety of athletes, spectators and fans. The part of upgrading the rest of the departments will continue. As for the specific part for these two stadiums, the cycling track and the central stadium, there we will wait for the study that will be done by the TEE. After these results we will reassess our position. But the money doesn’t go away, it will stay here.

The part of upgrading the rest of the departments will continue. As for the specific part for these two stadiums, the cycle track and the central stadium, there we will wait for the study that will be done by the TEE. After these results we will reassess our position. But the money doesn’t go away, it will stay here”.