Guangdong Olympic Stadium

Aoti Main Stadium

Location	Guangzhou, China
Owner	Guangdong People's Government
Operator	Guangdong Sports Bureau
Capacity	80,012
Surface	Grass
Construction
Broke ground	31 December 1998[1]
Built	1999–2001
Opened	22 September 2001[2]
Construction cost	1.23 billion RMB
Architect	Ellerbe Becket[3]
Tenants
2010 Asian Games, 2010 Asian Para Games

Guangdong Olympic Stadium
Traditional Chinese	廣東奧林匹克體育中心
Simplified Chinese	广东奥林匹克体育中心
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Guǎngdōng Àolínpǐkè tǐyù zhōngxīn

The Guangdong Olympic Centre Stadium or Aoti Main Stadium^[4] is a multi-purpose stadium in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Currently used mostly for football matches, the stadium was opened in 2001. It has a capacity of 80,012, making it the largest of any stadium in the People's Republic of China by seating capacity.^[5]

History

Guangdong Olympic Stadium was broken ground on 31 December 1998 at the former site of Huangcun Airport. It opened to the public for the Ninth National Games of China in 2001. It was originally planned to help host the 2008 Summer Olympics^[6] until a decision was made to construct the National Stadium in Beijing. The original design for the Guangdong Olympic Stadium was announced in 1999. Taking Guangzhou's nickname, the Flower City, the American architectural firm of Ellerbe Becket designed Guangdong Olympic Stadium's sunscreen roof to resemble layers of petals on a flower.^[7] The design firm stated in its press release: "The stadium bowl grows out of the ground to a sculpted upper edge, like the petals of a flower. Floating above the bowl is a shimmering ribbon of roof flowing like a wave over the seats. It parts at the ends and holds the Olympic flame, suspended between the two ribbons. A hotel surrounds a circular opening in the roof that forms a vertical tower of light, which at night is visible for a great distance." The stadium's multi-colored seats are positioned in multiple sections that are visually connected via a ribbon pattern.

Major events

• Guangzhou Pharmaceutical F.C. hosted the English Premier League champions Manchester United F.C. here on 27 July 2007.
• Guangzhou Pharmaceutical F.C. hosted Chelsea F.C. on 23 July 2008 in Chelsea's first-ever trip to China.
• The stadium hosted the athletics events of the 2010 Asian Games and 2010 Asian Para Games, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Asian Para Games. The ceremonies for 2010 Asian Games were held at a stand at Haixinsha Island in the Tianhe District.

References

1. "广东省奥林匹克体育中心". Guangdong Sports Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
2. "Chinese Architecture- Guangdong Olympic Stadium". Chinese-architecture.info. Retrieved 2011-05-02.
3. Guangdong Olympic Stadium architect: Ellerbe Becket
4. "Making the Aoti Main Stadium accessible". China Daily. 19 December 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
5. "Chinese Architecture- Guangdong Olympic Stadium". Chinese-architecture.info. Retrieved 2011-05-02.
6. ArchitectureWeek - Design - China's Banner Stadium - 2002.0501
7. "Guangdong Olympic Stadium". Archiplanet. Retrieved 2011-05-02.

External links

• Pictures of the Guangdong Olympic Stadium
• Architecture Week article about the stadium
• Stadium images at World of Stadiums

Coordinates: 23°8′15.56″N 113°24′12.67″E / 23.1376556°N 113.4035194°E