Seoul Olympic Stadium


Member Rating 2 out of 5 by michaelhudson on September 10, 2002

The centrepiece of a complex that also includes Seoul's main baseball arena, the Seoul Olympic Stadium is situated by the southern banks of the Han River in the suburb of Jamsil. Completed in 1984, the stadium holds over 100,000 spectators in its twin-tiered curving stands, and was the scene of the 1986 Asian Games, both the opening and closing ceremonies in the 1988 Summer Olympics, and, more memorably, Ben Johnson's drug assisted world record run in the 100 metre final.


A short walk from the Sports Complex subway station, the stadium looks huge and ugly across a vast concrete square that's usually deserted unless the LG Twins or Doosan Bears are in town. A sad collection of souvenirs are still on sale by the entrance, across from the ticket booth and a large 'Welcome To The Olympic Stadium' sign.


Inside the stadium, you're allowed to wander around the lower tier of the spectator seating and out on to the track itself. Unfortunately, there are no tours of the facilities or any displays relating to the stadium's history, so once you've taken a few photos and wandered around the track, there's not very much else to do. And while there are good views of the arena, Gangnam and Jamsil's concrete apartment blocks from the upper tier of the stadium, which you can get into through a staircase in Block 72, just to the left of the Press Box, and directly opposite the entrance, if you really want to see Seoul's Olympic legacy, you'd be far better off visiting Olympic Park than spending half an hour here.

Olympic Stadium
10 Chamsil-dong
Seoul, South Korea, 138-220
+82 (2) 417 8807

https://igougo.com/review-r1151213-Seoul_Olympic_Stadium.html

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