At a press conference on Thursday, May 21, held at the Ministry of Citizen Protection, authorities unveiled an extensive package of enhanced public order, security, and traffic measures ahead of the EuroLeague Final Four Athens 2026, scheduled to take place on May 22 and 24 at the OAKA Olympic Indoor Hall.
The spokesperson for the Greek Police stressed that the operational plan is built on prevention, strict separation of rival fan groups, timely information flow, rapid response capability, and the unified coordination of all involved agencies.
Strict fan segregation and controlled transfers
A central pillar of the plan is the complete separation of supporters by team affiliation, with all organized transfers taking place only through designated assembly points and prearranged routes under close police escort.
Olympiacos supporters will gather at the ISAP “Faliro” station from 1:00 pm, with departure scheduled at 3:00 pm via specially arranged train services that will make no intermediate stops. Fenerbahçe fans will assemble at “Thiseio” station from 12:00 pm, departing around 2:00 pm under similar controlled conditions.
Supporters of Real Madrid and Valencia will gather at the Panathenaic Stadium from 2:00 pm, with departures by bus scheduled for 3:45 pm and 4:00 pm respectively.
Authorities emphasized that strict adherence to the timetable is essential, as the entire operational design depends on maintaining fully separated movement flows. Any unauthorized movement outside the planned procedures is strictly prohibited, as is any attempt to approach, escort, or obstruct team delegations during transfers to and from venues or accommodation sites.
Ban on public gatherings and motorcades
A separate police directive, already in force from 6:00 am on May 21 until 6:00 pm on May 25, prohibits public outdoor gatherings and motorized demonstrations within a defined central Athens zone. The restricted area covers major streets in the city center, with the decision publicly available through official government and police transparency platforms.
Controlled access to OAKA
Entry procedures at OAKA will require spectators to present valid identification and match tickets, with early gate opening times and clearly separated entry flows for general spectators, VIP guests, team delegations, media representatives, and persons with disabilities.
The stadium will operate under a three-zone security perimeter with multi-layered checks, including ticket verification, identity confirmation, electronic cross-checking, physical screening, and inspection of personal belongings.
Only original ID cards or passports matching ticket details will be accepted. Any discrepancy will result in denied entry and immediate removal from the site. After screening, spectators will receive security wristbands, while random re-checks will continue throughout the event.
Re-entry will not be permitted once a spectator exits controlled areas. Individuals without valid accreditation or tickets will be removed immediately, and the same applies to vehicles lacking the required EuroLeague QR accreditation for access to the outer perimeter.
Authorities also noted that no exceptions will be made under any circumstances.
Fan Zone at Zappeion
A dedicated Fan Zone will operate at the Zappeion Hall on May 21 and 22 from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, and on May 24 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm. Entry will be managed through a reservation system, with a maximum capacity of 1,500 people at any given time.
Real-time monitoring, on-site police presence, and contingency decongestion plans will be in place to prevent overcrowding or uncontrolled gatherings.
Traffic regulations across Athens
Between May 22 and May 24, phased and temporary traffic measures will be implemented around OAKA, the SUNEL Arena (hosting the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague games), team hotels, and key arterial roads across the metropolitan area.
Measures include parking and stopping restrictions, rolling traffic interruptions along major routes used for team movements—such as Kifisias Avenue, Mesogeion Avenue, Vasilissis Sofias, Vasileos Konstantinou, P. Kanellopoulou, the Ymittos Peripheral Road, and the Attiki Odos—as well as increased deployment of traffic police at critical intersections.
Authorities reiterated that access without valid accreditation or tickets will not be permitted, and that no unauthorized vehicle will be allowed within the controlled perimeter of OAKA.
