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The Olympic Athletic Sports Center (OAKA) took its name from Spyros Louis. Spyros Louis was a resident of Maroussi and won the Marathon at the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens. Many decades later, a team that would later honor the country and sports in general with its achievements both inside and outside the border would find its home in Spiros Louis. Panathinaikos has written and will continue to write gold pages in his history at OAKA's indoor Olympic gym.

The physical home of Panathinaikos is none other than the indoor gym on Leoforos. The indoor "Pavlos Giannakopoulos" stadium, named after the late Panathinaikos administrative leader.

Also known as "Tomb of the Indus", as it was engraved in the memories of many because of the downward stairs one had to take to reach the parquet floor and of how low and "closed" it really was. When the requirements for European competitions were increased by FIBA, Panathinaikos' basketball team reviewed their own requirements and searched for a home that could accommodate them. In 1991-92 the Club sought a solution at the "Peace and Friendship Stadium" while eventually moving the headquarters to the indoor stadium in Glyfada. Nor, however, was this stadium worthy of the Club that a Giannakopoulos administration would create.


The year that the OAKA came into Panathinaikos' life and vice versa was 1995. It was the year that the 18,300-seat indoor gym opened, with Eurobasket and the World Youth Championship with Greece winning the gold in the junior division on a crowded court. The sequel belonged to Panathinaikos Basketball Club, that had brought Dominic Wilkins to our country that summer. The indoor gym was almost full during Dominique's first practice and would fill up many more times in the years to come. A unique exception were the two years 2003-05. The Greens were forced to leave the OAKA and move to the indoor stadium of Sporting in Patisia, as large stadiums were being rebuilt for the 2004 Olympics.

Panathinaikos has won and celebrated at the OAKA, 12 Greek Championships (1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018), 3 Greek Cups (2007, 2015, 2016), 1 Intercontinental Cup (1996), topping the European Championship in 2007 against CSKA Moscow. The same team found themselves in front of the "shamrock" in yet another great moment for Panathinaikos and the OAKA, in the friendly match for Frangiskos Alvertis and the withdrawal of the number 4 jersey.

In the ceiling of OAKA hangs the jersey with the number 13 by Dimitris Diamantidis, as well as the banner with the photo of the late Panathinaikos' administrative leader, Pavlos Giannakopoulos. One thing is for sure, that Panathinaikos and OAKA will write many more gold pages together in the future.

 

OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT OAKA:

 

Address:

Olympic Athletic Center of Athens "Spyros Louis"

37 Kifisias street, 151 23 Marousi, Athens

 

Access:

You can reach the indoor gym of OAKA, in the following ways:

  • Through the electric railway on Irini station
  • Through the suburban railway on Neratziotissa station
  • With your vehicle, only if you are a holder of a season ticket and if your season ticket includes a parking privilege

In the indoor stadium of OAKA, you can find:

  • Ticket Sale Booths:
    • OAKA ticketing booth Parking P5 and ticketing booth of Irini station. Ticketing booths are open 2 hours prior to each game and operate until the game starts.

  • Food & beverage canteens (canteens are open during games on the day of the game)