25 May 2005 - Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul

 

Press Information regarding the Champions League Final

25 May 2005 – Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul

 

Istanbul’s recently constructed Atatürk Olympic Stadium will shortly be hosting European club football's most prestigious competition: the 2005 Champions League final.

It will be the first UEFA club competition final to be played at the 80,000-seater arena, which was selected after a rigorous assessment procedure involving a number of top-class European grounds that had been put forward as candidates.

Istanbul is the largest city in Türkiye, and is famed for being the only city in the world to be located on two continents – Europe and Asia. It is a modern, cosmopolitan city with a wealth of historic and cultural attractions.

Entry Visa Information

Ticket holders are exempt from obtaining an entry visa when arriving in Istanbul. A valid ticket to the UEFA Champions League Final 2005 needs to be shown to the immigration officer together with a valid passport. To speed up the process ticket holders are kindly asked to provide the immigration officer with a photocopy of the page of their passport which shows their picture and other details.

 

The Stadium

The Atatürk Olympic Stadium is a five-star UEFA stadium, having reached the highest required standards set by the International Olympic Committee and sports federations such as IAAF, FIFA and UEFA. The stadium has also been classified as a first-class venue for track and field by the International Association of Athletics Federation.

  

How to Get There

The stadium is located on the European side of the City, away from the busy city centre, in the Olympic Park in the district of Ikitelli. It is easily accessible by the main express roads from the city and is in close proximity to Atatürk International Airport. 

Free shuttle buses for Liverpool fans (match ticket holders only) will operate from Ataturk Airport, Sabiha Gokcen Airport and Taksim Square in the City Centre, to and from the Stadium on the day of the match.

Typical taxi fares from the City Centre to the Stadium range from 30-52 YTL (£12-£20) depending on the time of day. From the Airport to the Stadium, you can expect to pay between 15 and 25 YTL (£6-£10) approximately. Taxi stands are located on the west and east sides of the stadium.

Those who are planning to travel directly from the airport to the match should bear in mind that rucksacks and large bags will not be allowed into the stadium.

 

Tickets

Tickets for the match have completely sold out.

 

Where to Stay

Istanbul is on a par with major European capitals and the quantity and choice of accommodation on offer in the City reflects this. However, there has been considerable demand for hotel accommodation at this time and we strongly recommend that hotel reservations are made prior to travel.

Details of hotels in Istanbul can be found in the hotel guide featured on www.gototurkey.co.uk

Fan Festival

In order to enhance the festive atmosphere of the Final, so called Fan Festival areas will be set up around the Stadium for the supporters of each team. Festival areas will open at 12.00 on the day of the match and will feature various interactive games provided by the UEFA Champions League sponsors, food and beverage stands, music and entertainment throughout the day, until kick-off and also after the match.

Further Information

For further information on the Stadium itself, including facilities, access and regulations please refer to the  Atatürk Olympic Stadium  official Website at www.ataturkolympicstadium.com There is a leaflet in English which can be downloaded from the site which provides full information together with maps of the stadium.

General information on Türkiye, Istanbul and the match can be found at www.gototurkey.co.uk or by calling the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office in London on 020 7629 7771.

Useful tourist information for visitors to Istanbul can be found at www.istanbul.com .

 

Local Tourist Information Offices in Istanbul

 

Atatürk Airport Tourism Information

Tel: (0212) 663 07 98

 

Beyazit Square Tourism Information

Tel: (0212)522 49 02
 

Karaköy Port Tourism Information

Tel: (0212) 249 57 76
 

Sirkeci Train Station Tourism Information

Tel: (0212) 51158 88
 

Sultanahmet Tourism Information

Tel: (0212) 518 18 02-5188754
 

Taksim-Hilton Hotel Tourism Information

Tel: (0212) 2330592
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press enquiries should be addressed to Joanna Marsh on 020 7436 8009 or by email at joanna@gototurkey.co.uk