Atanasio Girardot Sports Complex
Atlético Nacional Independiente Medellín
- Central American Games in 1978
- Visit of Pope John Paul II in 1986
- Copa America 2001
- South America 2010 Games
- U-20 Football World Cup 2011
The Estadio Atanasio Girardot is a football stadium in the Colombian city of Medellín, capital of the department of Antioquia. The stadium is nicknamed " El Atanasio ".
History
In the 1930s there was consideration in the growing city of Medellín to improve sports facilities. The project was decided in 1937 and 1946, found a lot. On March 19, 1953, the stadium of today's sports Unidad Deportiva Atanasio Girardot complex was inaugurated. The plant as the stadium got the name of the Colombian independence fighter Atanasio Girardot (1791-1813); who fought with Simón Bolívar for independence from Colombia and Venezuela.
Over time, the system has been further extended and renovated and is now one of the most modern sporting facilities in the country. It is located in a residential area of the city. The double-decker stadium offers spectators 52,872 seats; which are unüberdacht except for a part of the main grandstand. The two city rivals Atlético Nacional and Independiente Medellín wear their matches at the " El Atanasio ". The Colombian national football team went so far nine times in the stadium in Medellín to internationals. The first game took place on June 23, 1957 between Colombia and Paraguay (1:2) instead. The previous last game was on October 18, 2009, the qualifier for the FIFA World Cup 2010 against Chile; which the Colombians lost with 2:4.
In 1978 were held in the facility in Medellin, the Central American Games. During the 2001 Copa America, Colombia won for the first time, the Estadio Atanasio Girardot was the venue of the six games of the preliminary round group C. From 19 to 30 March 2010 was the sports complex with a stadium to a large part of the scene of the 9 South games. For this reason and in view of the U-20 FIFA World Cup 2011 stadium and other sports facilities has been renovated or newly built. Due to the stringent guidelines of the FIFA World Cup in 2011, the stadium will have 45,000 seats. Among the important events in the stadium was the visit of Pope John Paul II on July 5, 1986.
Unidad Deportiva Atanasio Girardot
To a large Unidad Deportiva sports complex Atanasio Girardot still belong next to the stadium, including the following sports facilities:
- Basketball Hall Coliseo Iván de Bedout
- Ballpark Diamante de Béisbol Luís Alberto Villegas
- Swimming Stadium Aquatic Complex
- Martín Emilio Rodríguez Cochise velodrome Velódromo
- Athletics Stadium Estadio de Atletismo Alfonso Galvis Duque
- Sports hall Coliseo Auxiliary Yesid Santos
- Gymnastic Hall Coliseo de Gimnasia
- Sports hall Coliseo Menor Rodrigo Pérez Castro
- Hall for martial arts Coliseo de Lucha o Combate
- Tennis facility
- Kart track
In the large system many sports are practiced such as gymnastics, basketball, handball, baseball, cycling, fencing, football, judo, karate, swimming, weightlifting, softball, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, beach volleyball, chess, table tennis, Wrestling, Hapkido, Wushu, Target Shooting, Rugby and American football.