For the 1988 Summer Olympics, a total of thirty-one sports venues were used. South Korea hosted its first World Championships in 1978 in shooting sports. Three years later, Seoul was awarded the 1988 Summer Olympics. Many of the venues constructed for the 1988 Games were completed two years earlier in time for the Asian Games. The 1986 Asian Games served as test events for the 1988 Summer Olympics. The men's marathon course was lined by 36,000 policemen. Steffi Graf won a gold medal in women's singles to complete the "Golden Slam". None of the football venues used for these games were used for the 2002 FIFA World Cup that Korea co-hosted with Japan.
The oldest venue, Dongdaemun Stadium, was built in 1926.[24] The stadium underwent three renovations between 1926 and the 1988 Summer Olympics.[24] Busan Goodek Stadium was built in 1928.[25] Dageu Stadium was constructed in 1948 and renovated in 1975.[26] Daejeon Stadium was completed in 1964.[27]
Taenung International Shooting Range was constructed in 1972 following the Summer Olympics that took place in Munich.[20] Six years later, the venue made history by becoming the first to host a world championships for shooting sports.[20][28] This venue was renovated in 1987-8 before the 1988 Games to comply with International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF, then Union International de Tir (UIT)) standards.[20]
Venues for the Seoul Sports Complex were constructed between 1973 and 1984.[31] Except for Mongchon Tosong and the Tongillo Road Course, all of the other venues were completed or renovated by the summer of 1986.[32] The fact that the city was preparing to host the 1986 Asian Games was well regarded, as much of the infrastructure built for the event would be reused and the event was seen as the big test.[31][32][33]
During the Olympics
The men's marathon course was run in hot weather along a route lined with 36,000 police personnel.[34] At the Han River Regatta Course/ Canoeing Site during the men's K-1 1000 m canoeing event, it was announced that Australia's Grant Davies had won the event, but that was reversed a few minutes later by a jury of the International Canoe Federation that AmericanGreg Barton had won the event in a photo finish by 0.005 seconds.[35] In the men's rowing coxless fours final, the Soviet team finished last to one of their seats breaking in the middle of the race.[36]
During the fifth race of the sailing Finn event near Busan, Canada's Lawrence Lemieux was in second place when he noticed Joseph Chan of Singapore in the water 25 yd (23 m) from his capsized boat.[37] Lemieux abandoned his position and rescued Chan and Chan's Singapore teammate.[37][38] Even though Lemieux finished last in the race, the IOC gave him second place for the race as a result of Lemieux's heroic efforts.[39][40] Lemieux would be awarded the IOC Pierre de Coubertin medal at the Finn medal awards ceremony by President Juan Antonio Samaranch.[38]
Olympic Stadium continues to be of use to many events as of 2010.[42] When Korea co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup with Japan, none of the 1988 Summer Olympic venues used for football were used for those events.[43] Dongdaemun Stadium was demolished in 2008.[24]
^Wallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2008). "Track & Field (Men): Marathon". In The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. London: Aurum Press Limited. pp. 149-50.
^Wallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2008). "Canoeing: Men's Kayak Singles 1000 Meters". In The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. London: Aurum Press Limited. p. 472.
^Wallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2008). "Rowing: Men's Four-Oared Shell Without Coxswain". In The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. London: Aurum Press Limited. pp. 796-7.
^ abWallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2008). "Sailing: Men's Finn". In The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. London Aurum Press Limited. p. 827.
^Wallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2008). "Tennis: Women's Singles". In The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. London: Aurum Press Limited. p. 1027.