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‘23rd August’ Stadium in Bucharest (1953–1989)
In February, 1953, Bucharest was chosen as the host for some major events: the International Youth Congress and the World Festival of Youth and Students. On this special occasion, the communist regime decided to build a sports complex of huge dimensions, the first of its kind in Romania, its main asset being an impressive stadium able to accommodate 80, 000 people. It was built by hundreds of workers as well as many young volunteers, whose joint efforts made possible its completion in July, 1953.
Our study aims to analyse the building of this stadium in a special political environment, namely the establishment of the communist dictatorship in Romania, and also the highlights of its existence until 1989. We believe that its purpose was not only that of hosting various sporting events, but, transcending the world of sport, it also became a favourite location for public festivities, intended to illustrate the support the Romanian people gave to the communist regime. This type of communist manifestation, wherein thousands of people were forced to participate, was also characterised as a patriotic activity and consisted of hours of mechanistic parading whilst holding placards, singing patriotic songs agreeable to those in power and reciting poems that underlined the benefits of the communist regime.
‘23rd August’ Stadium in Bucharest (1953–1989)
In February, 1953, Bucharest was chosen as the host for some major events: the International Youth Congress and the World Festival of Youth and Students. On this special occasion, the communist regime decided to build a sports complex of huge dimensions, the first of its kind in Romania, its main asset being an impressive stadium able to accommodate 80, 000 people. It was built by hundreds of workers as well as many young volunteers, whose joint efforts made possible its completion in July, 1953.
Our study aims to analyse the building of this stadium in a special political environment, namely the establishment of the communist dictatorship in Romania, and also the highlights of its existence until 1989. We believe that its purpose was not only that of hosting various sporting events, but, transcending the world of sport, it also became a favourite location for public festivities, intended to illustrate the support the Romanian people gave to the communist regime. This type of communist manifestation, wherein thousands of people were forced to participate, was also characterised as a patriotic activity and consisted of hours of mechanistic parading whilst holding placards, singing patriotic songs agreeable to those in power and reciting poems that underlined the benefits of the communist regime.
‘23rd August’ Stadium in Bucharest (1953–1989)
Puni, Alexandru-Rareș (author)
The Journal of Architecture ; 18 ; 672-682
2013-10-01
11 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
‘23rd August’ Stadium in Bucharest (1953–1989)
| British Library Online Contents | 2013
`23^r^d August' Stadium in Bucharest (1953-1989)
| British Library Online Contents | 2013
23rd August Stadium in Bucharest (19531989)
| Online Contents | 2013
| Elsevier | 1990