Phnom Penh National Olympic Stadium

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Phnom Penh National Olympic Stadium

Location	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Opened	1964
Owner
Architect	Vann Molyvann
Tenants
Capacity	50,000

The National Sports Complex, or Olympic Stadium is a stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It has a capacity of 50,000. Designed by architect Vann Molyvann, it was built in 1964.

[edit] History

Construction on the National Sports Complex started in 1963 and was completed in 1964.^[1] Designer Vann Molyvann made use of massive earthworks to create the stadium, digging up 500,000 cubic meters of earth to shape the grounds.^[2]

The stadium might have been built to host the 1963 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, but the games were cancelled due to political problems in Cambodia. There was also the short-lived GANEFO games, and they were held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in November 25th~December 6th, 1966 and were named 'First Asian GANEFO'. The stadium did play host to appearances by visiting dignitaries and state occasions, and was the home of Cambodia's national athletics teams.^[1]

The stadium played a small part in the 1966 FIFA World Cup. Unexpectedly, North Korea faced Australia in a qualifier. Because North Korea lacked dipomatic relations with most countries, finding a suitable venue for the match proved difficult, until Head of State Norodom Sihanouk, an ally of Kim Il-sung, said the matches could be held in Phnom Penh. The matches attracted 40,000 fans, with Sihounouk decreeing half would cheer for Australia, while the other half cheered the Koreans. The matches were held on 21 November 1965 with Australia winning 6-1 and on 24 November 1965 with North Korea winning 1-3. North Korea qualified and went on to defeat Italy to play in the quarterfinals, where they were defeated by Portugal.^[3]^[4]

Among the facilities are Olympic-size pools for swimming and diving.^[1]

During the Khmer Rouge era, the stadium was used as the site of executions by the Khmer Rouge of officials in the administration of Lon Nol.^[5]

In the decades following the Khmer Rouge era, the stadium facilities fell into disrepair. In 2000 the stadium complex was redeveloped by a Taiwanese firm, the Yuanta Group, which refurbished the stadium but also redeveloped parcels of the complex into condominiums and commercial properties.^[6]^[7]

As of 2007, the stadium has come to be a popular attraction for Phnom Penh residents, who attend daily exercise sessions, as well as football games and other activities.

In May 2007, the Irish singer Ronan Keating performed in concert at the stadium, the first concert by a major international act.^[8]^[9]

In November-December 2007, the World Organization Volleyball for Disabled held its world cup at the stadium, the first major international sporting event in Cambodia in more than 40 years.^[10]^[11]