{{Short description|Sports venue in Tbilisi, Georgia}} {{Infobox venue | name = Tbilisi Olympic Palace | native_name = ოლიმპიური სასახლე | native_name_lang = ka | nickname = Tbilisi New Sports Palace | image = Olympic Palace (Tbilisi, GEO) 2017.jpg | caption = Entrance to Olympic Sports Palace in 2017 | location = Tbilisi, Georgia | coordinates = {{Coord|41.7181|44.7279|display=inline,title}} | broke_ground = January 2015 | opened = 13 July 2015 | renovated = | expanded = 2022 (arena) | closed = | demolished = | owner = Government of Georgia | operator = | surface = | construction_cost= | architect = | former_names = | tenants = | seating_capacity = Grand Hall: 3,600 (sports) or 4,000 (concerts)<br>Tbilisi Arena: 10,000 (basketball) }} '''Olympic Palace''' ({{lang-ka|ოლიმპიური სასახლე|tr}}) is an indoor sports arena situated in Tbilisi, Georgia, which was built to be used as one of the venues for the 2015 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://magda.ge/olimp/olympic-palace/?lang=en|title=Olympic Palace – Olimp|website=magda.ge|accessdate=13 August 2017|archive-date=13 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813232116/http://magda.ge/olimp/olympic-palace/?lang=en|url-status=dead}}</ref> А new basketball arena was added to the complex in 2022.
==Construction and facilities== Opened on 13 July 2015 by Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, the complex features two halls that are capable of hosting several sports, such as handball, basketball, volleyball, judo, wrestling, futsal, fencing and other games and tournaments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://agenda.ge/news/38921/eng|title=New Sports Palace opens in Tbilisi for EYOF 2015|website=agenda.ge|accessdate=13 August 2017}}</ref> The seated capacity for the Grand Hall (also known as the main hall) is 3,600 for sporting events while the smaller hall can hold 800 spectators.<ref>{{Cite web |title=როგორი იქნება ახალი სპორტის სასახლე – მინისტრის მოადგილის კომენტარები |url=http://gbf.ge/news/rogori-iqneba-akhali-sportis-sasakhle-ministris-moadgilis-komentarebi |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=საქართველოს კალათბურთის ეროვნული ფედერაცია |language=ka |quote=მახარებს, რომ ძალიან მალე საქართველოს ექნება ევროპული სტანდარტების 10 ათასკაციანი ლამაზი სპორტის სასახლე, რომელიც ერთიანი კომპლექსის ნაწილი იქნება. ახალი არენა გვირაბით დაუკავშირდება 2015 წლისთვის აგებულ ოლიმპიურ სასახლეს, რომელშიც ორი სხვადასხვა ტევადობის დარბაზია. ერთში 3 ათასი ადამიანი ეტევა, მეორეში – 800,” – გვითხრა შალვა გოგოლაძემ.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=ცეცხლაძე |first=თათია |url=https://doi.org/10.52340/9789941995514 |title=როგორი იქნება თბილისის ახალი სპორტის სასახლე. ვიდეო |date=2025 |publisher=Imedi Media Holding |isbn=978-9941-9955-1-4 |language=ka}}</ref> The Olympic Palace also includes a VIP lounge, conference and media rooms, a cafe and car parking area with space for 260 cars.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://smsorg.ge/olympic-palace/ | title=Ოლიმპიური სასახლე – Olimp }}</ref>
===Tbilisi Arena=== thumb|left|Tbilisi Arena during the opening day of EuroBasket 2022 The complex was expanded with a new 10,000-seat indoor basketball arena next to the Olympic Palace and later hosted the Group A matches of EuroBasket 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2022/news/fiba-europe-delegation-visits-tbilisi-to-see-progress-of-new-arena|title=FIBA Europe delegation visits Tbilisi to see progress of new arena|website=FIBA|date=1 April 2021|accessdate=28 December 2021}}</ref> A tunnel connects the two venues of the complex, with the arena expected to be completed by the end of May 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://agenda.ge/en/news/2022/1699|title=In'l Basketball Federation praises "successful" construction of new sports complex in Tbilisi|website=Agenda.ge|date=12 May 2022|access-date=19 May 2022}}</ref> Prime Minister Garibashvili visited the new building on 11 June of that year. The palace's arena is built in line with modern standards and equipped with the latest technology. The new Sports Palace hosted the first EuroBasket test match on 4 July.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=574&info_id=82403|title=Irakli Garibashvili: With new Sports Palace in place, we are ready to host EuroBasket|website=www.gov.ge|date=|access-date=16 June 2022}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==Events== The venue has hosted the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Judo Grand Prix Tbilisi. The Group A round of the UEFA Futsal Euro 2018 qualifying competition was held here from 24 to 27 January 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/futsaleuro/season=2018/standings/round=2000849/group=2005294/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105101727/http://www.uefa.com/futsaleuro/season=2018/standings/round=2000849/group=2005294/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 5, 2017|title=Futsal EURO - Standings – UEFA.com|last=uefa.com|website=UEFA|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref> The 4th European Kung Fu Championships<ref>{{cite web|url=http://agenda.ge/news/79603/eng|title=Tbilisi hosting European Kung Fu Championships|website=agenda.ge|accessdate=13 August 2017}}</ref> and the 2017 Men's Youth World Handball Championship from 8–20 August.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.ihf.info/en-us/mediacentre/news/newsdetails.aspx?ID=4857|title=2017 Men's Junior and Youth World Championships in Algeria and Georgia|date=15 March 2017|work=ihf.info}}</ref>
On 26 November 2017, the venue hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2017;<ref name="full_list">{{cite web |last=Jordan |first=Paul |date=9 August 2017 |title=16 Countries to dazzle on stage in Tbilisi in 2017! |url=http://www.junioreurovision.tv/page/blog?id=268592 |accessdate=9 August 2017 |website=junioreurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}</ref> originally, the Tbilisi Sports Palace was selected to host the event, but it was relocated to the Olympic Palace as the former venue was considered "unsuitable".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berdzenishvili |first=Mariam |date=2025-05-13 |title=ლევან ჟორჟოლიანი {{ndash}} საბავშვო ევროვიზიისთვის საქართველოს 20-მდე ქვეყნის წარმომადგენლები ეწვევიან, ღონისძიებას ახალი სპორტის სასახლე უმასპინძლებს, მაყურებელს დაუვიწყარი შოუ ელოდება |trans-title=Levan Zhorzholiani {{ndash}} Representatives of about 20 countries will visit Georgia for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, the event will be hosted by the New Sports Palace, an unforgettable show awaits the audience |url=https://1tv.ge/news/levan-djordjoliani-sabavshvo-evroviziistvis-saqartvelos-20-mde-qveynis-warmomadgeneli-ewveva-ghonisdziebas-akhali-sportis-sasakhle-umaspindzlebs-da-mayurebels-dauviwyari-shou-elodeba/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=First Channel |publisher=Georgian Public Broadcaster |language=ka}}</ref> It was originally set to host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2025,<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-01 |title=18 countries will take part in Junior Eurovision 2025 |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/18-countries-participating-junior-eurovision-2025 |access-date=2025-10-01 |website=Junioreurovision.tv |publisher=EBU}}</ref> but the contest was eventually relocated to the Gymnastic Hall of Olympic City at a late stage due to the unavailability of the Olympic Palace for an assessment visit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michał |date=2025-11-24 |title=Gruzja być może zmieniła arenę Eurowizji Junior 2025? |trans-title=Georgia may have changed the venue for Junior Eurovision 2025? |url=https://escspot.pl/2025/11/24/gruzja-byc-moze-zmienila-arene-eurowizji-junior-2025/ |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=ESCSpot |language=pl}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline}} {{s-start}} {{succession box | title=Junior Eurovision Song Contest<br>Venue | before=Mediterranean Conference Centre<br>Valletta | after=Minsk Arena<br>Minsk | years=2017 }} {{s-end}}
{{FIBA EuroBasket 2022}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Tbilisi Category:Buildings and structures completed in 2015 Category:Basketball venues in Georgia (country) Category:Handball venues in Georgia (country) Category:Indoor arenas in Georgia (country) Category:Sports venues in Tbilisi Category:Sports venues completed in 2015