The National Sports Complex of Cambodia, known as Olympic Stadium, is located near our apartment. Built in 1964, it can seat 50,000 and was intended as a venue for Southeast Asia games. That didn’t materialize due to the politics of the time, but the stadium did play a small role in the 1966 FIFA (soccer) World Cup. North Korea found itself matched against Australia in a qualifier and, since North Korea had diplomatic relations with very few countries, Cambodia topped a very short list of possibilities. King Norodom Sihanouk gave approval, and then made sure that half of the 40,000 fans cheered for North Korea and the other half for Australia. (North Korea won.)

Since then, its history parallels that of Cambodia. It was used as a field hospital during the Lon Nol years of 1973-75, and, when overrun by the Khmer Rouge in 1975, it was used as a parade ground for the Khmer Rouge army and as a public site for the execution of Lon Nol supporters.

Largely in disrepair, it was renovated in 2000 and now serves as a popular gathering place for thousands of exercise enthusiasts during the early morning and evening hours.

The following six photos give just a little extra flavor to this description.