Ras Tafari in Phnom Penh.

A couple of pictures of Ras Tafari, otherwise known as Haile Selaisse I, Emperor of Ethiopia, at a parade in Olympic Stadium during his visit to Cambodia in 1968.

The writing on the placards held by the crowd read "Viva His Majesty Haile Selassie I" and "Viva Cambodian-Ethiopian Friendship."

From King Father Norodom Sihanouk's archives on: http://www.norodomsihanouk.info/

Le Cercle Sportif and other pools.

The Cercle Sportif was built in 1929 near to Wat Phnom on what was then Avenue Joffre. There were tennis courts as well as the large pool. Situated in the French quarter, it was enjoyed by the elite members of the protectorate and their families for many years. After independance it was re-named the Club Sportif Khmer.

On 21st April 1975, former Prime Ministers Long Boret and Sisowath Sirik Matak were executed on the grounds. It was demolished in the early part of this decade to make way for the sprawling US Embassy which was built on the site.

The Cercle Sportif in Battambang was inaugurated in 1965. It originally had an Olympic sized pool, but when it was refurbished a few years ago this was made smaller, and now the diving board is far from the water.

The Phnom Penh Sports Club (previously called the VIP Club, the current VIP club near Norodom Boulevard and the PPSC are managed by the same company) on St. 271, south of Psah Tuol Tom Pong, was formerly the residence of Marshall Lon Nol. It apparently had a large underground bunker built below it. In 1974 Khmer Rouge artillery landed close to the house, although he wasn't there at the time.

The first two pictures show the Cercle Sportif in 1929, the second two are from 1938. The color images are from 1960. the following two pictures are of the Cercle Sportif Battambang, and the color image below is the Phnom Penh Sports Club. The last picture is of the new US Embassy which was built on the site of the Phnom Penh Cercle Sportif.

The first two older pictures are from http://www.culture.fr

The following two are from. http://belleindochine.free.fr/Cambodge.htm

The 1960 pictures are from http://mounyetpapyluc3.canalblog.com/albums/au_cambodge_il_y_a_50_ans_/

The picture of Cercle Sportif Battambang is from Helen Grant Ross' study here: http://www.forum-urban-futures.net/files/Grant%20Ross_Heritage%20as%20a%20Phenomenon%20of%20Cultural%20Hiatus%20in%20the%20Battleground%20of%20Battambang.pdf

The picture of the Phnom Penh Sports Club is from http://tumnei.wordpress.com/

Olympic Stadium 1964

Here are a couple of amazing pictures of the stadium from the air, around the time the construction was completed. I haven't posted anything for a few months because at first I couldn't access the blog, and then when I could I found I'd forgotten the log in details. Anyway, loads more to come, hope you haven't lost interest in the meantime.