Madrid, the capital city of Spain, is a hub for sports enthusiasts. With its love for football, basketball and other sports, Madrid has hosted several international events including the 1982 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 Basketball World Cup.
However, one question that often arises is whether Madrid has an Olympic Stadium or not. Let’s delve into this topic and explore the answer.
History of Madrid’s Bid for Olympic Games
Madrid has made several attempts to host the Olympic Games. The first attempt was made in 1965 when the city bid to host the 1972 Summer Olympics.
However, Munich was ultimately selected as the host city. Madrid made subsequent bids in 1972, 2012 and 2016 but lost to other cities.
Madrid’s Olympic Stadium
While Madrid has never hosted an Olympic Games, it does have a stadium that was built in anticipation of hosting one. The Estadio La Peineta was initially constructed to host the athletics competitions of the 1997 World Athletics Championships but was later refurbished with the aim of hosting events at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
The Estadio La Peineta has a seating capacity of over 68,000 spectators and is located in San Blas-Canillejas district of Madrid. It features state-of-the-art facilities such as VIP lounges, media zones and training grounds for athletes.
The Fate of Estadio La Peineta
Despite its impressive facilities and sizeable capacity, Madrid’s bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics was unsuccessful as Tokyo won the bid instead. The stadium remained unused until it was acquired by Atlético Madrid Football Club in 2017.
The club refurbished the stadium once again and renamed it Wanda Metropolitano after their primary sponsor Wanda Group. Since then, it has been used as the home ground for Atlético Madrid, hosting several football matches including the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
Conclusion
While Madrid has never hosted an Olympic Games, it did have plans to do so with the construction of Estadio La Peineta. However, with the city’s unsuccessful bids for hosting the Olympics, the stadium remained unused until it was acquired by Atlético Madrid Football Club. Today, it stands as a testament to Madrid’s love for sports and its constant efforts to host major international events.