Moscow’s iconic Luzhniki Stadium has marked 70 years since its official opening, which took place on July 31, 1956, when the venue was known as the Central Lenin Stadium.
Located near the Vorobyovy Gory, the stadium opened with a grand celebration featuring performances by gymnasts, acrobats and athletes, attended by more than 100,000 spectators.
Just days later, on August 5, the stadium hosted the opening ceremony of the first Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR, one of the country’s biggest multi-sport events at the time. Over the years, the venue went on to host major international events, including the 6th World Festival of Youth and Students in 1957 and the 1980 Summer Olympics.
Luzhniki has since become a major sporting landmark, hosting athletics competitions, international and domestic football matches, and world and European championships in sports including ice hockey, basketball, volleyball, artistic gymnastics, sambo and martial arts.
Today, Luzhniki is the centerpiece of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex and is considered Russia’s largest sports arena. The stadium also regularly hosts major concerts, festivals and cultural events.