Stadium sights in Asia
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Bird’s Nest & Water Cube
After the event, walking around the Olympic Sports Center midweek is rather like being stuck in a district of Brazilia or a soul-destroying intersection in Gattica or Alphaville. Traffic lights go red and there are no cars to stop; the green man flashes and there’s no one to cross the brand-spanking-new roads. It’s now hard to imagine that this was the scene of great sporting exultation in August 2008, but such is the fate of most Olympics projects. Squinting in the sun, guards in ill-fitting black combat gear point the occasional group of map-clutching tourists to the Water Cube and the signature National Stadium, which is more colloquially known as the Bird’s Nest. Ente…
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World Cup Stadium & Mall
Costing US$151 million, the spectacular 64,000-seat World Cup Stadium was built to stage the opening ceremony and some of the matches of the 2002 World Cup soccer finals, which Korea co-hosted with Japan.
The Seoul World Cup Museum relives the highs and lows of the 2002 cup on screen, along with souvenirs and a couple of virtual soccer games. Nearby is the tour office (open from 9am to 6pm) for trips behind the scenes to the changing-rooms that the soccer superstars used.
The stadium is also home to a CGV cinema multiplex, a popular fashion store called Homever, a food court and spa. Around the stadium are large parks that have been cleverly reclaimed from landfill sites …
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Tokyo Dome City
Tokyo Dome is home to Japan's favourite baseball team, the Yomiuri Giants, and its surrounding 'city' features a wide variety of attractions, including Kōrakuen Amusement Park, known for its old-school roller-coaster, which thunders through Tokyo's core.
Also on the grounds is Spa LaQua, which offers an inner-city onsen experience, where you can bathe in spacious luxury while gazing out over the infinite expanse of concrete and neon. Of particular interest are the colour therapy suites (which supposedly help with rejuvenation) and the trippy aquarium room where you can sit and gaze at alienlike jellyfish pulsing around their blue-tinted world. Just remember – no tattoos a…
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Chitral Polo Ground
At the south end of town is the Chitral polo ground. One of Pakistan's best, practice matches are held here every few days from mid-March to early November, and real matches on weekends, always in the afternoon. On one side is a covered VIP stand, where tourists may sometimes sit (if there are no dignitaries in town). The best players are often drawn from the Chitral Scouts and the police. The best times for polo are from late May onwards, and in the run up to the Shandur and Chitral festivals.
The PTDC office or CAMAT will be able to advise on upcoming matches.
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Taipei Arena
'Build it and they will come', seems to be the motto behind this brand-new Taipei Arena. Vast, cavernous and shaped like a flying saucer, the Taipei Arena hosts concerts, sporting events and noteworthy performances. Check out the website for the latest schedule.
Even if there's nothing in particular going on, it's a good place to visit because of the shi-shi shops on the first level, and it's a good place for the kiddies thanks to the amusement centre in the basement.
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Sepang International Circuit
Malays follow soccer and basketball enthusiastically, but the big spectator sport in Kuala Lumpur is motor racing. About 60km south of the centre, the Sepang International Circuit hosts some of the biggest events in Asian motorsports, from the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix (in October) to the Petronas Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix (in March/April). Events take place throughout the year so check the website for listings or visit the office (2273 9335) in KL Sentral.
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Changlimithang Stadium & Archery Ground
The national stadium occupies the site of the 1885 battle that helped establish the political supremacy of Ugyen Wangchuck, Bhutan's first king. It is now the site of the national archery ground, a large football stadium and parade ground, basketball, tennis and squash courts, as well as the headquarters of the Bhutan Olympic committee. It's always worth checking to see what event is taking place when you are in town.
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Bird’s Nest
Way up in the north of Chaoyang, the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium, the stunning centrepiece of the 2008 Olympics, now stands mostly idle. It’s still a remarkable, if rapidly rusting, venue and if you want to relive the events of August 2008, this is the best place to do it. For an extra Y200, you can ascend the medals podium and make like a winner.
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Singapore Cricket Club
Ringed by imposing colonial façades, there are few more obvious symbols of British imperialism than the Padang's manicured lawns. Defying the tropical heat, the Singapore Cricket Club (est. 1852) struts its stuff to choruses of 'Huzzah!' and 'Cracking shot old bean!' from the members' pavilion. Rugby, bowls and football get an airing during the off-season.
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Jingū Baseball Stadium
Home to the Yakult Swallows, Tokyo’s number two team, Jingū Baseball Stadium was originally built in 1926. When not hosting Yakult Swallows games, the baseball stadium is sometimes used for high-profile Little League and intercollegiate championships. You can buy tickets from the booth in front of the stadium; outfield tickets can cost as little as ¥1500.
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Nihon Budōkan
Westerners know the 14,000-plus-seat Budōkan as Tokyo's legendary concert hall for big acts from the Beatles to Beck, but it was originally built as the site of martial arts championships (judō, karate, kendō, aikidō) for the 1964 Olympics (budō means 'martial arts'). These arts are still practised and exhibited here today.
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Mahalaxmi Racecourse
Mumbai's horse-racing season runs from November to the end of April. Races are held on Sunday and Thursday afternoons (Saturday and Sunday towards the end of the season) at Mahalaxmi Racecourse. Big races, such as the Indian Derby in February, are major social occasions.
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National Stadium
The National Stadium hosts the biggest football matches (tickets cost Rf15 to Rf40) and the occasional cricket match. More casual games can be seen any evening in the sports grounds at the east end of the island and near New Harbour.
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Hippodrome
Horse races and occasionally kökpar (see Buzkashi on), take place at the Hippodrome, several kilometres north of the centre. Get someone to call ahead and see what's on. Take a taxi, or bus No 8 northbound on Qonaev from Töle Bi.
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Mudeung Stadium
Catch the local Kia Tigers baseball team in action at Mudeung Stadium near the bus terminals, and spot the differences with the American game. Many buses, including 1 and 23, can drop you there. Matches start at 14:00 or 18:30.
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National Sports Complex
Footie fans can catch international matches at the National Sports Complex, accessible from the Bukit Jalil LRT station. For information on fixtures, contact the Football Association of Malaysia (7873 3100; www.fam.org.my).
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soccer stadium
The graceful soccer stadium, 6km west of Seogwipo, is the centrepiece of a cluster of buildings that includes a cinema multiplex, an E-Mart discount store, a water park, an Eros museum and Seogwipo's new bus terminal.
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Ranji Stadium
The vast Ranji Stadium in Eden Gardens hosts international cricket matches. Behind is a lake and picturesque Burmese pagoda but they're currently out-of-bounds due to an arcane political squabble.
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National Stadium
Completed in 1958 and used as one of the primary venues for the 1964 Olympics, National Stadium now hosts the annual Toyota Cup (November or December) and other international soccer events.
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Asiad Stadium
The Busan Icons of the Korean soccer league play in Asiad Stadium which is located behind the Asiad Home Plus department store, and is a 10-minute walk from Sajik baseball stadium.
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Ghazi Stadium
Kabul’s main stadium hosts football matches most Friday afternoons. In the winter months and at Nauroz there are occasional buzkashi matches.
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Stadium Bola Keranjang
Basketball games run by the Malaysia Amateur Basketball Association (www.malaysia-basketball.com) take place at the Stadium Bola Keranjang in Chinatown.
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Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
International cricket matches, including test matches, are played here. Consult local newspapers or the PTDC for up-to-date details.
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Sajik Stadium
Professional sports provide a day of fun. Perennial bottom feeders the Lotte Giants play baseball at Sajik Stadium .
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