Quake-Damaged New Zealand Stadium Ordered Demolished

Christchurch’s QEII Park, which was built to host the 1974 Commonwealth Games, has been ordered demolished more than a year after being severely damaged by a deadly earthquake.

The Christchurch City Council confirmed Wednesday it had received a demolition order for the stadium which hosted track and field events at the 10th Commonwealth Games. The stadium’s grandstands were irreparably damaged by the Feb. 22, 2011 quake that killed 185 people.

Spectators at the stadium during the 1974 games saw Jamaica’s Don Quarrie win the 100 and 200 meters, Ben Jipcho of Kenya win the 3,000 and 5,000 meters and Tanzania’s Filbert Bayi beat New Zealand’s John Walker in the 1,500 meters.