The Abbasiyyin Stadium ( ar, مَلْعَب ٱلْعَبَّاسِيِّين, Malʿab al-ʿAbbāsīyīn) is a multi-use all-seater stadium in Damascus, Syria, currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home venue of the Syrian national team. The stadium which was built in 1976 is able to hold up to 30,000 spectators, being the 4th largest stadium in Syria.

History

The stadium was originally opened in 1957 with a capacity of 10,000 spectators, to host football matches and local

athletics Athletics may refer to: Sports * Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking ** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport * Athletics (physical culture), competi ...

events. On the occasion of the 5th

Pan Arab Games The Arab Games ( ar, الألعاب العربية), also called the Pan Arab Games, are a regional multi-sport event held between nations from the Arab world. They are organized by the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees. The first Gam ...

1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 ...

, the stadium was entirely renovated and the capacity was expanded up to 40,000 spectators. However, after the most recent renovation in March 2011, Abbasiyyin Stadium was turned into an all-seater stadium and the capacity was reduced to 30,000 seats. Abbasiyyin Stadium hosted the 5th and 7th

in 1976 and 1992 respectively as a main venue. On 6 May 2001, a holy mass was conducted by

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...

in the Abbasiyyin Stadium.Pope John Paul II, holy mass in Damascus Abbasiyyin Stadium
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References

Football venues in Syria Buildings and structures in Damascus Syria Buildings and structures completed in 1957 Sports venues completed in 1957 1957 establishments in Syria {{syria-sports-venue-stub