gymnastics

North Korea Mass Games Dates Confirmed

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Art

A date has been set for the Arirang Mass Games in Pyongyang, North Korea! The Korea International Travel Company has put the word out that Arirang will run from August 2, 2010 through October 10, 2010, Koryo Tours tells me.

With more than 100,000 participants in a 90-minute display of gymnastics, dance, acrobatics and other performing arts, Arirang has been described as "a synchronized socialist-realist spectacular." The spectacle is shrouded in heavy political messaging, of course, as this is the prevailing theme of North Korean art.

The show is held every evening at 7 PM, and you'll witness the "largest picture in the world" – a human mosaic. Each student holds a book, flipping pages as scenes change. There are up to 170 pages in one book! The work has already begun, and preparations are visible on the streets of Pyongyang, according to Koryo Tours. With tens of thousands of gymnasts stretching and practicing in the city's parks.

Looking for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation? This is it.

Gallery: Arirang Mass Games Preparation in North Korea