Has the Greek government found a buyer for Santiago Calatrava's Athens Olympic Park?
The Athens Olympic Park could get a new lease of life, if plans by Greek businessman Dimitris Giannakopoulos are given the green light.
Giannokopoulos, a pharmaceutical entrepreneur who currently owns the Panathinaikos basketball club, has tabled a bid to buy the Panathinaikos football club – which is currently owned by Panathinaiki Alliance, a fan group which took over the club in 2012.
What makes the deal significant is that, according to press reports in Greece, the deal will only be allowed if Giannakopoulos also takes over the Athens Olympic Park (OAKA) in its entirety.
Some of the park’s facilities and venues, which hosted the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, are still in use – such as the Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall, where the Panathinaikos basketball team plays its home games.
Many of the park’s facilities have fallen into disrepair, however, and the complex is among the state assets the Greek government has lined up for privatisation.
Giannakopoulos has revealed detailed plans for the park, which would include demolishing the basketball venue to construct a new one, as well as rebuilding the dilapidated Olympic Stadium – the main venue of the 2004 Games.
The stadium, which was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava for the Games, would be radically re-designed – with only the Calatrava-designed roof to be spared.
According to Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the acquisition of the park would be part-funded by an international hotel group – which plans to open a hotel at the site – and could be agreed as soon as April 2018.
Dimitris Giannakopoulos Panathinaikos Athens Athens Olympic Park Athens Olympic GamesSantiago Calatrava exclusive: 'I want to push the limits of expression'
'True artist' Calatrava awarded European Prize for Architecture in New York
Greek delegation offers Olympic tips to 2008 host
Report claims Athens will miss out on tourism boost of hosting Olympics
London 2012 team says “We could do it better than Athens”
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Bionic leaves, breathable metals and selfgrowing bricks... Biomimicry in architecture has come a long way. Christopher DeWolf takes a look at the latest advances