Rungrado May Day Stadium
Encyclopedia
The Rŭngrado May First Stadium, or May Day Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium
in Pyongyang
, North Korea
, completed on May 1, 1989.
The stadium was constructed as a main stadium for the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students
in 1989.
It is currently used for football
matches, a few athletics matches, but most often for Arirang
performances (also known as the Mass Games
). The stadium can seat 150,000, which is the largest stadium capacity in the world and the world's 12th largest sporting venue.
Its name comes from Rungra Islet
in the Taedong River
, upon which it is situated, and May Day
, the international day celebrating labour and particularly celebrated among communists. Its scalloped roof features 16 arch
es arranged in a ring, and it is said to resemble a parachute
or a magnolia
blossom.
It is not to be confused with the nearby 50,000 capacity Kim Il-sung Stadium
.
It hosts events on a main pitch sprawling across over 22,500 m² (242,200 ft²). Its total floor space is over 207,000 m² (2.2 million ft²) across eight stories, and the lobes of its roof peak at more than 60 m (197 ft) from the ground.
While the stadium is used for sporting events, it is most famous as the site of massive performances and shows celebrating Kim Il-sung
and the North Korean nation. In June–July 2002 it was the site of the colossal and meticulously choreographed "Arirang
" gymnastic and artistic performance (often referred to elsewhere as "mass games
"). The extravaganza involved for the first time some 100,000+ participants—double the number of spectators— and was open to foreigners, a rare occurrence. These performances are now an annual feature in Pyongyang, usually in August and September. The Guinness Book of Records has recognized these events as the largest in the world.
In the late 1990s, a number of North Korean army generals implicated in an assassination attempt on Kim Jong-il were executed via burning in the stadium.
It was also the venue in which Kim Jong-Il
in 2000 entertained Madeleine Albright
, the U.S. Secretary of State
under President Bill Clinton
.
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
in Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
, North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, completed on May 1, 1989.
Overview
13th World Festival of Youth and Students
The 13th World Festival of Youth and Students was held from 1–8 July 1989 for 8 days, in Pyongyang, the capital of the North Korea. The World Federation of Democratic Youth had decided to celebrate its 13th festival there....
in 1989.
It is currently used for football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
matches, a few athletics matches, but most often for Arirang
Arirang Festival
The Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance Arirang are held in the Rungrado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea...
performances (also known as the Mass Games
Mass games
Mass games or mass gymnastics are a form of performing arts or gymnastics in which large numbers of performers take part in a highly regimented performance that emphasizes group dynamics rather than individual prowess.-Methods:...
). The stadium can seat 150,000, which is the largest stadium capacity in the world and the world's 12th largest sporting venue.
Its name comes from Rungra Islet
Rungra Islet
Rungra Islet is an islet in Pyongyang, North Korea, located in the middle of the Taedong River. Its total area is . The Chongryu Bridge on the north side and the Rungra Bridge on the south side connect the islet to the rest of Pyongyang. The islet is a good place to see some of the Eight Views of...
in the Taedong River
Taedong River
The Taedong River is a large river in North Korea. It rises in the Rangrim Mountains of the country's north. It then flows southwest into Korea Bay at Namp'o. In between, it runs through the country's capital, Pyongyang. Along the river are landmarks such as the Juche Tower and Kim Il-sung...
, upon which it is situated, and May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
, the international day celebrating labour and particularly celebrated among communists. Its scalloped roof features 16 arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
es arranged in a ring, and it is said to resemble a parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
or a magnolia
Magnolia
Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol....
blossom.
It is not to be confused with the nearby 50,000 capacity Kim Il-sung Stadium
Kim Il-sung Stadium
Kim Il-sung Stadium is a large stadium located in Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It was originally built as the Kirimri Stadium in 1926 during the Japanese occupation in 1930-1940s...
.
It hosts events on a main pitch sprawling across over 22,500 m² (242,200 ft²). Its total floor space is over 207,000 m² (2.2 million ft²) across eight stories, and the lobes of its roof peak at more than 60 m (197 ft) from the ground.
While the stadium is used for sporting events, it is most famous as the site of massive performances and shows celebrating Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...
and the North Korean nation. In June–July 2002 it was the site of the colossal and meticulously choreographed "Arirang
Arirang Festival
The Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance Arirang are held in the Rungrado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea...
" gymnastic and artistic performance (often referred to elsewhere as "mass games
Mass games
Mass games or mass gymnastics are a form of performing arts or gymnastics in which large numbers of performers take part in a highly regimented performance that emphasizes group dynamics rather than individual prowess.-Methods:...
"). The extravaganza involved for the first time some 100,000+ participants—double the number of spectators— and was open to foreigners, a rare occurrence. These performances are now an annual feature in Pyongyang, usually in August and September. The Guinness Book of Records has recognized these events as the largest in the world.
In the late 1990s, a number of North Korean army generals implicated in an assassination attempt on Kim Jong-il were executed via burning in the stadium.
It was also the venue in which Kim Jong-Il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
in 2000 entertained Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Korbelová Albright is the first woman to become a United States Secretary of State. She was appointed by U.S. President Bill Clinton on December 5, 1996, and was unanimously confirmed by a U.S. Senate vote of 99–0...
, the U.S. Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
under President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
.