Project for a new 8,000-seat Atatürk Stadium presented in Lefkoşa

The project for a new Atatürk Stadium and multifunctional sports complex was presented at the TRNC Parliament in Lefkoşa. The facility will cover around 56,000 m² and will accommodate 8,000 spectators.

The complex is being designed to international standards: the arena is expected to meet the criteria for UEFA Category 4 — the highest category in the European federation’s classification for stadiums.

Turkey’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Turkey’s Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, and President of the Cyprus Turkish Football Association (KTFF) Hasan Sertoğlu attended the presentation.

Üstel called the construction project the “project of the century”. According to him, Turkish Cypriot sport has developed under restrictions for years: young people did not give up taking part in sports despite opposition from the administration of the Republic of Cyprus and a veto in the European Union.

Yılmaz called the complex a new “seal” of cooperation between Turkey and the TRNC, said he expected a swift transition to construction work, and promised further support from Ankara. Sertoğlu noted that the sporting community had been seeking a new stadium for many years.

The start date and cost of the project were not announced at the presentation.