GSP Stadium

The Pancyprian Gymnastic Association Stadium (GSP Stadium) (Greek: Στάδιο Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος "Τα Παγκύπρια") is a football stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus. Although small by international standards, it is the largest stadium in Cyprus, with a capacity of 23,700 and was built in 1999. It serves as the home stadium for the Nicosia Clubs of APOEL, Olympiakos Nicosia and AC Omonia. The Cyprus national football team has also played home games there in the past. 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 "Gha See Pee" rather than the English "Gee Es Pee". 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 23,700 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.[2] Anorthosis Famagusta FC have their UEFA Champions League matches held at the GSP for the 2008-09 season. The GSP Stadium also hosted all home matches of APOEL FC in 2009-10 Champions League group D. All matches were sold out.