El Menzah Sports Palace
El Menzah Sport Palace (Arabic: قصر الرياضة بالمنزه) is an indoor sports arena situated in El Menzah, a district in the north of Tunis. It is located in the heart of the Olympic City of El Menzah, near the Stade El Menzah.
Cupola of El Menzah | |
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| Location | Cité olympique, Tunis, Tunisia |
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| Coordinates | 36°50′10″N 10°10′58″E |
| Capacity | 5,500 (2005) |
| Opened | 1967 |
| Tenants | |
| Tunisia men's national volleyball team | |
History
Built on the occasion of the 1967 Mediterranean Games opened by president Habib Bourguiba, the arena was used primely for the volleyball competition. The 5,500-seat enclosure hosted matches of the 2005 World Men's Handball Championship as well as those of the African handball nations championships organized in Tunisia (1974, 1981, 1994, 2006).
The hall also hosts political meetings and music concerts, the first of which were those of Umm Kulthum in 1968.
The arena usually hosts volleyball, basketball, handball, judo, fencing, wrestling and other games and tournaments with high attendance. It will host several matches of the 2014 FIVB Volleyball World League.
Events
The arena hosted many events and competitions:
- IHF World Men's Handball Championship: 2005
- Men's African Volleyball Championship: 1967, 1976, 1987, 1995
- Mediterranean Games: 1967, 2001
- FIE Fencing World Cup: 2009-2010
- FIBA Under-19 World Championship for Women: 2007
- FIBA Africa Championship: 1987
- African Men's Handball Championship: 1974, 1981, 1994, 2006
