Ginásio do Maracanãzinho - Brasil

Ginásio do Maracanãzinho
Maracanãzinho
Maracanã Arena
Full name	Ginásio Gilberto Cardoso
Location	Maracana, North Zone São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Broke ground	April 1954
Opened	September 24, 1954
Renovated	October 2003-June 30 2003 2007
Closed	October 2003
Owner	Superintendência de Desportos do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Surface	800m²
Construction cost	97 million R$ (2003 renovations)
Architect	Galvão, Bastos, Azevedo and Carneiro
Main contractors	Prolar S.A.
Capacity	11,800 12,600 (Futsal)
Record attendance	35,000 (1954 Mundobasket final stage:USA - Brazil 62-41)
Field dimensions	40x20 m
Tenants
Brazil women's national volleyball team Flamengo Basketball (NBB) (2008-2009)

Ginásio do Maracanãzinho, sometimes called just Maracanãzinho (Little Maracanã), is a modern indoor arena located in Maracanã neighborhood, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Its formal name, Ginásio Gilberto Cardoso, honors a former Clube de Regatas do Flamengo president. The capacity of the arena is 12,600 for Indoor football, it has a total seating capacity for 11,800 and it was opened in 1954. Located near the Maracanã Stadium, Maracanãzinho means Little Maracanã.

History

Maracanãzinho's construction started on April 13, 1954 and lasted for only five months. It was built by Construtora Prolar S.A. The architects were Rafael Galvão, Pedro Paulo Bernardes Bastos, Orlando Azevedo and Antônio Dias Carneiro, the engineer was Joaquim Cardoso.

The gymnasium was inaugurated on September 24, 1954, with that year's Men's Basketball World Championship, for which it had a capacity for 25,000 spectators. The arena also hosted the 1963 event of the same competition, with the home team, coached by Kanela taking the gold medal, its second Men's Basketball World Championship in a row.

During the 1950s and the 1960s, the Miss Guanabara and Miss Brasil beauty pageants were held in Maracanãzinho.

During the 1960s and the 1970s several national and international music festivals were held in the gymnasium.

The 1990 Men's Volleyball World Championship was held in Maracanãzinho.

At the age of 32, Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira became the first female singer to fill the Maracanãzinho Gymnasium in 1981.

Renovations and future events

For the 2007 Pan American Games, the gym was remodelled, relying on central air conditioning and adding a four-sided scoreboard, a new sound system, dome which allows natural lighting during the day, comfortable seating, and adapting to all international requirements. Thus, the Maracanazinho that for many years received no competitions, it became a beautiful venue for the volleyball competitions of the 2007 Pan American Games and many other international competitions. After the reform, the arena had its capacity, initially of about 13,000 people, reduced to 11,800 spectators, but now the arena is much more comfortable for spectators. These adjustments will reduce the capacity of the gymnasium from 13,163 to 12,300 spectators, but will increase the field of vision and provide greater comfort to the public.

Since Rio de Janeiro was selected to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, the venue will be used to host the volleyball competitions.

• (Portuguese) Official website
• Venue information