'Dubai Sports Complex a technological marvel'

The new state-of-the-art Dubai Sports Complex that is under construction has been described as the most modern indoor stadium in the world, according to four-time Olympian Kyriakos Giannopoulos.

“It is the most modern of course and most synchronised indoor hall. It can host apart from aquatic sports also basketball, tennis, mini football and badminton,” said Kyriakos in an exclusive interview with Emirates 24|7.

It is expected to stage the World Shortcourse Swimming Championship in December with construction going  apace for the opening on October 10.

“There is no venue like this anywhere in the world,” said Kyriakos who is the director of the multi-purpose complex situated along Dubai Bypass Road.

“This complex is one of the biggest in the world,” added Kyriakos, 51, who has seen it all during a water polo career which saw him represent Greece in four Olympic Games in Moscow (1980), Los Angeles (1984), Seoul (1988) and Barcelona (1992).

Thereafter, he got into sports management while studying law and worked in the organising committee for the Olympic Games in Athens 2004. He was director of all aquatic disciplines such as swimming, water polo, diving and synchronised swimming at the Athens Games before serving as General Manager of the entire Olympics Complex in Athens from 2004 2009.

What made him come to Dubai? “First of all Greeks and Arabs are very close and culture more or less same.

I took it up as a challenge because I have the experience and knowledge to operate a big organisation like this,” said Kyriakos who was invited by the Dubai Sports Council.

“It was a big challenge for me to be here and I’m happy for choice because I meet people who know to do many things about sport and about the management which is very important for me,” said Kyriakos who already feels at home in the few months he has been here.

“I want to thank all these people (Dubai Sports Council) because they help me in my first steps here in Dubai and they make me feel like I’m in my country. That’s very important,” said Kyriakos whose task is to organise the operation of the biggest indoor complex in the world.

A unique feature of this 15,000 seater complex which can host 10 Olympic disciplines is that the swimming pools can be covered for other indoor sports like basketball and volleyball. “It is very interesting and a technological marvel,” he said.

He treats the complex like a new-born baby and wants to participate in its growing up process. “I look to organise this complex from the beginning. Together with the Dubai Sports Council I want to organise this as a model venue in the world. This is our target,” he said.

The Dubai Sports Complex could not be compared to the Olympic complex in Greece, he said. “The Olympic stadium, it was only for football and track and field. Also the indoor hall was only for basketball, it was not for swimming, basketball and volleyball,” said Kyriakos a much travelled man during a water polo career that saw him earn 432 national caps being captain cum coach of the team which came eighth at the Barcelona Games.

“In December we will host the swimming world championships for 25 metres. We hope lot of athletes from all over the world will be here. We are also ready to do organise other major events. It is the biggest in Middle East,” declared Kyriakos who has overseen global events being held at the Olympic Stadium in Greece such as the Champions League final, Euro League basketball, cycling and swimming championships.

They are also planning to stage non-sports events in the Dubai Sports Complex. “We care for other sports and for events like concerts. We have a lot of plans about this. This is also a big challenge,” he said.
 

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