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The Pancyprian Gymnastic Association Stadium (GSP Stadium) (Greek: Στάδιο Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος Παγκύπρια) is a football stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus. It is the largest stadium in Cyprus, with a capacity of 22,859 and was built in 1999. It serves as the home stadium for the Nicosia Clubs of APOEL, AC Omonia and Olympiakos Nicosia. The Cyprus national football team also plays its home games there. It was also the name of the Old GSP Stadium which was at the centre of Nicosia with capacity of 12,000. People are encouraged to pronounce GSP as "Gah Si Pi" rather than the English "Gee Es Pee".

Old GSP Stadium

The first committee of GSP, made use of the gym of the Cypriot Association as a stadium, near the church of Saint Savvas, which was later renamed to Pancypria Gym. The administration was assigned to Theofanis Theodotou who had participated many times in the Gymnastic events in Greece and had twice won the laurel of victory.

After these, the board of Directors of GSP, using stocks of the Greek Orthodox residents of Nicosia, bought some space outside the walls of Nicosia and in 1902, the new gym was constructed with capacity of 12,000 seats. As Nicolaos Katalanos writes in the Cypriot Album in 1914, broad and in an excellent location and made this the first in the whole East and second only to the Panathens Stadium.

Since 1934 this Stadium had been called G.S.P. Stadium of Eugenia and Antonios Theodotou in honor of its great benefactors and their significant donation to the Gymnastic Association. The GSP Stadium of Eugenia and Antonios Theodotou, according to article 42 of the Association's memorandum, has been registered in the name of the Archbishop of Cyprus on 8 May 1951. Excellent athletes of GSP who won significant victories not only in Cyprus but abroad as well, brightened this stadium with their presence. GSP was linked with classic athletes of the capital and became the expresser (spirit) of the track and field.

At the same time GSP Stadium was used by the football clubs of Nicosia (mainly by Omonia, APOEL and Olympiakos) and became the center of all athletic meetings in Cyprus. The GSP Stadium was also associated with important pages of the history of the Greek Cypriots. Great events and important speeches supporting the Unitary Referendum and the ending of the colonialism took place within the GSP.

After the construction of the Makarion Athletic Center, GSP Stadium began to fall behind. Step by step, athletic events were transferred to the Makarion Stadium. Because of the increasing popularity of football in Cyprus and Nicosia teams, Old GSP became too small for the fans of such teams, and the two greatest teams of Nicosia and Cyprus, APOEL and Omonia were transferred to Makario Stadium with capacity of 16,000 seats between 1977 and 1978. Since then, it was used as home for Olympiakos Nicosia until 1994. In the past it was used by Çetinkaya Türk S.K. and Trast AC until their withrewal from Cypriot football competitions.

Finally on 24 June 1991, an exchange agreement for the Stadium was signed up with he Government, aiming to the construction of a new stadium. Plans have been drawn to redevelop the prime real estate the the old GSP stadium lies on.[1] [2] Originally there were plans to move the Cyprus Stock Exchange there, but it has now been converted to a park and ride facility. [3] [4]

New GSP Stadium

The new GSP Stadium opened for use on 6 October 1999. The complex has three arenas: a football stadium, an athletics stadium and an auxiliary football pitch intended for training. The stadium is owned by the Pancyprian Gymnastic Association. With an official seating capacity of 22,859 the new GSP is the largest football venue in Cyprus. It is located at the entrance to Nicosia (as approached from the A1 highway) and was inaugurated in 1999 by the then President, Glafcos Clerides and Archbishop Chrysostomos I. The first game held there was a friendly match between AC Omonia and APOEL, which ended 3-3.

Since then, the stadium is not only the home of Nicosian teams but usually of Cyprus national football team. During the World Cup 2006 qualifying round it was used as home for all matches of Cyprus. The stadium is the only one in Cyprus which satisfies UEFA Criteria. For this reason since 2004 it is used as home for all the teams of Cyprus in European Cups. Annually, the stadium hosts the Cyprus FA Shield (Super Cup). Also until 2005, it was hosting annually the Cypriot Cup final.

Because of the danger conflicts in Middle East, in 2002 the stadium was home for Israeli clubs for the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League matches. It hosted the UEFA Cup quarter final (as home for Hapoel Tel Aviv) between Hapoel Tel Aviv and AC Milan. It was also used by Maccabi Haifa for home stadium for the Champions League Group and Qualifying Round matches and for the UEFA Cup matches. Some matches were attractive for Cypriots like the matches Maccabi Haifa-Olympiacos CFP and Maccabi Haifa-Manchester United, since those two Maccabi's rivals are very popular in Cyprus.

It's the only stadium in Cyprus build only for track & field games. In addition with the hotel, it provides a full training centre solution for athletes all over the world. During the Olympic Games of Athens 2004 many athletes from different countries used the stadium for training.

In 2001 Bruno Zauli, took place here with great success.

The attendance record for the football stadium is 23,043 for a cypriot championship game between APOEL and AC Omonia on December 7, 2002.[5]

[edit] Attributes
GSP Stadium.
GSP Stadium.
GSP Stadium west stand.
GSP Stadium west stand.
Stand Capacity Entrance Gates
West Stand 7.818 6
East Stand 4.939 4
North Stand 4.749 4
South Stand 4.953 4
VIP Boxes 400 1
Total 22.859 19

GSP Athletic Centre includes :

GSP Football Stadium

* Weight Lifting Room
* Lockers (Fully Equipped)
* Doping Control Room
* Referees Lockers
* Delegate Room
* Indoor Warm Up Area
* Conference Rooms
* Secretarial facilities
* Restaurant
* Cafeteria
* Storage Rooms
* Press room
* First Aid Room (fully equipped) - Medical Center
* Physiotherapy room
* Press Room
* VIP Boxes
* Special seats for disabled people
* Air Conditioning
* Central Heating
* Fire Alarm
* Telecommunication services
* Internet Services - Wi-Fi Internet Access
* CCTV
* Matrix Screen

* Pitch Size = 105m x 68m
* Lighting = 1400 lux
* VIP Private Boxes = 31
* Press Seats = 200 Seats
* Parking Place = 2000 cars
* Annual Events = 100 - 110 events

Outdoors and yet covered, the Stadium Square offers the best of both worlds, for large-scale activities of any kind. Located between the football stadium and the track and field stadium, this vast space provides maximum flexibility, as it can be furnished and equipped, decorated or divided as required for each event. Providing ample space for activities, catering and live DJ events - with or without paid entrance facilities - the Stadium square lends itself to:

* Full-scale parties, christenings or weddings
* Concerts
* Exhibitions
* Fun fair and bazaars

GSP Stadium track field.
GSP Stadium track field.

GSP Track and Field Stadium

* Capacity = 4000 Seats
* IAAF Certificate = Class A
* Lighting = 800 lux

Includes :

* Weight Lifting Room - Gym
* Indoor warm up area
* Photofinish installations
* Lockers (fully equipped)
* Doping Control Room
* Physiotherapy Room
* Snack bars/canteens/restaurants
* Storage Rooms
* First Aid Room (fully equipped)
* Press Room
* Telecommunication services
* Special seats for disabled people
* Air Conditioning
* Central Heating
* CCTV

GSP Hotel

It includes :

* 34 Double Rooms (Athletes)
* 4 Double Rooms (Trainers)
* 2 Single Rooms (Disabled people)
* 2 Double Rooms (Disabled people)

* Reception
* Conference Rooms
* Meeting Rooms
* Play Room
* TV Room
* Restaurant
* Cafeteria
* Training Fields
* Gym
* Lockers
* Massage Rooms
* Therapy pools
* Doping Control Room
* Medical Center
* Air Condition
* Central Heating
* Wi-Fi Internet Access
* Telephone - In every room
* TV - In every room
* Parking

The Club

The Gymnastic Association Pancypria was founded in 1894 with the initiative of the lawyer Theofanis Theodotou and the doctors Antonios Theodotou and Aristofanis Fenievs. Excellent athletes of GSP who won significant victories not only in Cyprus but abroad as well, brightened this stadium with their presence. GSP was linked with classic athletes of the capital and became the expresser (spirit) of the track and field.

In 1896 the G.S. Pancypria participated in the A' Pancyprian Games which took place in the G.S. Olympia Stadium in Limassol. Since then it has participated in all pancyprian games because the Pancyprian Games became a significant national feast for Cyprus, during which the stadium, where the games were taking place, was decorated with Greek flags and the national desires were proclaimed .

The athletes of GSP were declared winners of the Pancyprian Games and other games that took place in Cyprus, many times. Many of them were qualified periodically and sent abroad where they accomplished great victories.

External links

* Official website

References