Opened 2013 Construction cost 779 million USD | ||
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Capacity 47,659 – football40,000 – Olympic ceremonies Similar Shayba Arena, Bolshoy Ice Dome, Iceberg Skating Palace, Sochi Olympic Park, Ice Cube Curling Center | ||
Fisht Olympic Stadium (Russian: Олимпийский стадион «Фишт», Olimpiyskiy stadion "Fisht"; [ɐlʲɪmˈpʲijskʲɪj stədʲɪˈon ˈfʲiʂt]) is an open-air stadium in Sochi, Russia. Located in Sochi Olympic Park and named after Mount Fisht, the 40,000-capacity stadium was constructed for the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, where it served as the venue for their opening and closing ceremonies.
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The stadium was originally built as an enclosed facility; it is currently undergoing a conversion into an open-air football stadium in preparation for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2018 FIFA World Cup when it will be called Fisht Stadium.
Construction
Fisht Olympic Stadium was designed by Populous and British design consultancy BuroHappold Engineering the stadium's roof was built from approximately 36,500 square metres (393,000 sq ft) of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) and was designed to give the roof the appearance of snowy peaks. The bowl opens to the north, allowing a direct view of the Krasnaya Polyana Mountains, and the upper deck is open to the south, allowing a view of the Black Sea.
Having opened in 2013, it cost US$779 million to build the stadium. The stadium complex now serves as a training centre and match venue for the Russia national football team, and will serve as a site for matches during the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Post-Olympics usage
In January 2015, a 3 billion ruble (US$46 million) project began to renovate the stadium in preparation for the FIFA Confederation Cup and World Cup; among other changes, the closed roof was removed in order to make the stadium compliant with FIFA regulations. The work was expected to be completed by June 2016, but the completion date was pushed back to November 2016.
Only two stadiums hosted Winter Olympics and FIFA World Cup's matches — Fisht and Stadio Olimpico in Turin, Italy. Also, Fisht is only one stadium, which hosted Winter Olympics and FIFA Confederation Cup's matches.
Commemoration
In October 2013, the Central Bank of Russia issued a commemorative 100-ruble note to mark 100 days before the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympics. The blue-tinted banknote depicts a flying snowboarder on one side, and on the other the Fisht Olympic Stadium and a firebird.