The largest stadium, both in Bucharest and Romania, will be inaugurated on September 2011, and, on this occasion, Romfilatelia introduces into circulation a postage stamps issue dedicated to this event.
The former “23 August” Sports Centre – located, until 2007, on the place of the current National Arena – was built in less than a year for the World Festival of Youth and Students held in Bucharest, in 1953.
The stadium, with a capacity of 80,000 seats, was built “by volunteers” and, because of the very limited time required for its construction, it had no foundations. It was built directly on the ground; nevertheless, it hosted important events, among them being the Universiade in 1981. On this stadium, matches of the Romanian National Football Team and imposing demonstrations dedicated to the country ruler on that time also took place.
In 1990, the stadium was named “Lia Manoliu” and, until its demolition in 2007, it hosted many concerts of famous singers and bands worldwide.
Nowadays, in 2011, after four years of hard work, the Romanian capital city can be proud of an UEFA standards stadium, which will be inaugurated on the occasion of the Romania - France football match within the EURO 2012 Preliminaries (6th of September 2011).
With a gross built-up area of almost 110,000 square metres and a capacity of 55,000 seats, two standing tiers (upper and lower tiers), 40 VIP boxes, including bars and restaurants, the National Arena has a modern retractable roof made of membrane on a steel cable structure. The semitransparent membrane (9,700 sqm) allows natural lighting on the stadium during daytime and can be opened or closed in only 15 minutes. The metallic cables supporting the roof weigh 700 tons. Four video screens 30 square metres each can be found at roof level.
Through its achievement, the National Arena becomes not only the largest and most modern stadium in Romania, but also a landmark construction of the Romanian capital city.
Philatelic document – issued into a limited run printing of 230 copies, equipped with postage stamp of the issue, numbered and cancelled with the “first day” postmark
