Rungrado May Day Stadium facts for kids
The Rŭngrado May First Stadium, also known as the May Day Stadium, is a huge sports stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea. It was finished on May 1, 1989.
| May Day Stadium | |
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| Location | Pyongyang, North Korea |
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| Coordinates | 39°2′58.47″N 125°46′30.79″E / 39.0495750°N 125.7752194°E |
| Capacity | 150,000 |
| Field size | Main pitch- 22,500 m² Total floor space- over 207,000 m² |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | May 1, 1989 |
| Tenants | |
| Parades/shows celebrating Kim Il-sung and North Korea. Arirang Festival North Korea national football team (some games) |
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Contents
About the Stadium
This stadium is a multi-purpose stadium. This means it can be used for many different events. It was built for the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students in 1989.
What the Stadium is Used For
Today, the stadium is mostly used for the Arirang performances. These are also called the Mass Games. Sometimes, it hosts football (soccer) matches. A few athletics events also take place here.
How Big is the Stadium?
The May Day Stadium can hold 150,000 people. This makes it the largest stadium in the world not used for car racing. Its main field is about 22,500 square meters. The total space inside the stadium is over 207,000 square meters.
Where Does the Name Come From?
The stadium's name comes from two things. "Rŭngrado" is from Rungra Islet. This is an island in the Taedong River where the stadium is built. "May First" or "May Day" is an international holiday. It celebrates workers and their achievements.
Famous Events at the Stadium
The stadium is most famous for its huge shows. These shows celebrate Kim Il-sung and the country of North Korea.
The Arirang Mass Games
In 2002, the "Arirang" gymnastic and artistic shows were held here. More than 100,000 people performed in these shows. This was twice the number of people watching! These performances were open to visitors from other countries. This was quite unusual at the time.
Now, these amazing performances happen every year. They usually take place in August and September. The Guinness Book of Records has said these events are the largest in the world.
Important Visitors
In 2000, Kim Jong-Il, a leader of North Korea, used the stadium. He hosted Madeleine Albright there. She was the U.S. Secretary of State under President Bill Clinton.
Images for kids
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The Arirang Festival, celebrating 100 years since the birth of Kim Il-sung.
See also
In Spanish: Estadio Rungrado Primero de Mayo para niños
