Athens Mayor Haris Doukas has announced the start of demolition work on the Badminton hall at the former Goudi Olympic Centre in Athens. The removal of the structure marks the initial phase in creating the Goudi-Ilissios Metropolitan Park, designed to serve as a major green space for the capital.
Doukas expressed his satisfaction with the official launch of clearance operations during a visit to the newly established worksite at the fire-damaged building. He described the commencement of demolition as a historic moment for the city, noting that it builds upon a unanimous vote by the Athens City Council to adopt a unified metropolitan approach to the redevelopment of the Goudi area.
Ministerial order and city council approval
The mayor highlighted the official demolition order issued by Greek Minister Nikos Dendias as a particularly significant milestone for the project. Doukas emphasized that removing the destroyed facility is a vital step toward creating a crucial green lung in Athens and fulfilling the long-standing plans for the Goudi-Ilissios Metropolitan Park.
The decision to begin dismantling the venue follows the formal approval of the mayor's proposal by the Athens City Council. The municipal authorization provided the green light for the immediate removal of the burned structure, the restoration of legal order across the site, and the acceleration of all necessary administrative and technical procedures.
History of the Badminton venue and Goudi park project
The Badminton hall was originally constructed as a temporary sports venue for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games inside the Goudi Olympic Complex. Located in eastern Athens along the Ilissios river corridor, the building was later repurposed into a commercial theater and performance hall before suffering extensive damage in a major fire.
The proposed Goudi-Ilissios Metropolitan Park project aims to unify fragmented public spaces, former military lands, and Olympic venues into a continuous urban park network. Local authorities plan to convert the cleared Badminton site into open parkland as part of broader environmental restoration efforts across the capital.
