Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Tuesday 1 July 2008
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Helsinki Football Stadium (©Football Association of Finland/Jussi Eskola)
Club: Finland national team
Capacity: 40,000
Matches: Four group matches, final
City population: 1.3 million
City website: www.helsinki.fi
Stadium website: http://www.stadion.fi/
The stadium
Helsinki's Olympic Stadium, with an original capacity of more than 70,000, was opened in 1938, and was due to stage the summer games two years later but war was to intervene. However, the Olympics did come to the Finnish capital in 1952, occuring in the shadow of the stadium's 72m-high tower, which commands superb views of the city.
As well as being the regular home for the Finland national team, the Olympic Stadium has continued to stage major international sporting events, not least the inaugural IAAF World Championship in Athletics in 1983, and the same event in 2005. Major concerts are also held at the arena, with the Rolling Stones having played there six times.
The city
Helsinki, the capital of Finland since 1812, was founded in 1550 but only really grew with its new status in the 19th century. It is now one of the fastest-growing cities in Europe and is home to attractions including the National Museum of Helsinki.
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