Kim Il-sung Stadium
| Kim Il-sung Stadium | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Former names | Kirin Stadium Moranbong Stadium |
| Location | Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
| Coordinates | 39°2′37.4″N 125°45′27.7″E / 39.043722°N 125.757694°E |
| Opened | 1926 (original) 1969 (current) |
| Renovated | 1982 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Capacity | 50,000 [1] |
| Tenants | |
| North Korea national football team North Korea women's national football team Pyongyang City Sports Group |
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| Kim Il-sung Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 김일성경기장 |
| Hanja | 金日成競技場 |
| Revised Romanization | Gim Il-seong Gyeonggijang |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kim Il-sŏng Kyŏnggijang |
TheKim Il-sung Stadium is a large football stadium located in Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
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[edit] History
The Kim Il-sung Stadium was originally built as the Kirimri Stadium in 1926 during the Japanese occupation in 1930-1940s.
This stadium held Gyeong-Pyong Football Match between Gyeongseong FC and Pyongyang FC during 1920s, 1930s and the 1940s.
After the surrender of Japan in August 1945, it was used as a venue for speeches by politicians, and it was the site of Kim Il-sung's first speech after returning from exile in 1945. Rebuilt in 1969, it was then called Moranbong Stadium, but in 1982 it was renovated and renamed in honour of Kim Il-sung. The stadium's capacity is 50,000.[2] It is used mainly for football matches, and the yearly Mass Games. It is not to be confused with the larger Rungrado May Day Stadium.
[edit] Present Day
In present day times, the Kim Il-sung stadium is used as the home ground for the North Korea national football team, the North Korea women's national football team and the Pyongyang City Sports Group. The the North Korea national football team, the North Korea women's national football team and the Pyongyang City Sports Group all play their home games at the Kim Il-sung Stadium.
In 2008, on two occasions, a 2010 World Cup qualifying match between the two countries, due to be played in Pyongyang, had to be moved to Shanghai when authorities in the North refused to allow the South Korean national anthem to be played in Kim Il-sung Stadium, or the flag of South Korea to be flown, as North and South Korea have never granted each other formal diplomatic recognition.[3]
The start and finish of the annual Pyongyang Marathon occurs at Kim Il-sung Stadium.[4]
[edit] Gallery
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Side view of the Kim Il-sung stadium.
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Football game with Turkmenistan team at Kim Il-Sung Stadium, June 2008.
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Football game with Turkmenistan team at Kim Il-Sung Stadium, June 2008
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Foreign tourists at Kim Il-Sung Stadium watching the football game between the North Korean and Turkmenistan teams, June 2008
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Local spectators at Kim Il-Sung Stadium watching the football game bewtween the North Korean and Turkmenistan teams, June 2008
[edit] References
- ^ [1]
- ^ "World Stadiums: Stadiums in North Korea". http://www.fussballtempel.net/afc/PRK.html.
- ^ "Clash of North and South Koreas ends all square", The Telegraph, 10 September 2008
- ^ Robert Willoughby: North Korea 2nd ed. Bradt Travel Guides, 2008
[edit] External links
- Kim Il-Sung Stadium photo at WorldStadiums.com
- Kim Il-Sung Stadium on Google Maps
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Coordinates: 39°2′37.4″N 125°45′27.7″E / 39.043722°N 125.757694°E
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