This afternoon’s start of the EKO Acropolis Rally from the Ellinikon site marks more than the beginning of one of the most storied events on the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar. It also offers the general public a first up-close look at a significant portion of the new sports facilities being developed as part of the sweeping urban redevelopment of the Ellinikon, the former Athens airport, currently being carried out in full swing by Lamda Development.
The rally’s super special stage will be held at the Ellinikon Sports Park, the new athletic center taking shape on the grounds of the former airport, which is expected to open its doors in phases over the coming months. Spanning 287,000 square meters, the Sports Park stands as one of the most important individual infrastructure components of the new urban development underway at the Ellinikon.
The thousands of motorsport fans attending the super special stage will get an early sense of a venue designed to serve as a hub for sports, fitness, and wellness — open to elite athletes, sports clubs, and the general public alike.
As announced by Lamda Development, the facility has been designed to be open and accessible to everyone, allowing daily use by both high-performance athletes and amateur participants, families, children, and Attica residents looking for places to exercise and spend their leisure time. The Ellinikon Sports Park will include facilities for soccer, basketball, tennis, athletics, and aquatics, along with training and rehabilitation areas, as well as accommodation for visiting athletes. The infrastructure has been built to international federation standards, making it capable of supporting both everyday training and the hosting of high-level competitions and events.
At full build-out, the complex will feature soccer, basketball, and tennis courts, a track-and-field venue, an aquatics center, an athletic lodge with 124 rooms, wellness and recovery spaces, and extensive outdoor areas for running, cycling, and other activities. The design also incorporates large open green spaces and recreational areas, while the Sports Plaza and the Spiral event venue will be able to host sporting and cultural activities year-round. Parking for approximately 1,000 vehicles has been planned for visitors.
The choice of this site for the EKO Acropolis Rally super special stage is no coincidence. The new facilities have been designed with the capacity to host major international events while remaining accessible to citizens on a daily basis. The rally thus offers a preview of how the space will be put to use going forward, blending sports, entertainment, and public access.
The opening of individual facilities is expected to begin in the summer, with soccer, athletics, tennis, and basketball venues being handed over in stages. Until then, the EKO Acropolis Rally super special stage will deliver a first taste of a venue that aims to become one of the largest and most modern sports centers in the country, integrated into the new vision being shaped at the Ellinikon and along Athens’ coastal front.
