What Abandoned Olympic Venues From Around The World Look Like Today

Most cities simply do not have the infrastructure required to withstand the two-week influx of athletes, coaches, fans, and media members. The money required to build state-of-the-art athletic facilities is skyrocketing, and academic research suggests spending billions on a two-week event is not a wise investment. In the worst-case scenario for host cities, Olympic venues go unused after the games and become white elephants - total wastes of space and money. We've seen this at a number of different Olympic sites around the world. Of course, the reasons this happens are specific to each country: Sarajevo, for example, suffered from a gruesome war that caused the 1984 Winter Olympic venues to crumble. Nevertheless, these photos from Reuters, Getty Images, and others have become symbolic of the downside of hosting the Olympics. Sarajevo hosted the Winter Olympics in 1984. Dado Ruvic / Reuters One decade later, civil war broke out and ravaged the country. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Some of the Olympic venues were repurposed and used as military facilities. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The bobsled facility was turned into an artillery stronghold during the war. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Today the heavily gratified course is sometimes used for BMX races. Dado Ruvic / Reuters A dog walks past the Kosovo Stadium, where the opening ceremonies were held. Dado Ruvic / Reuters And weeds grow over the walls of the Kosovo Stadium. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The abandoned ski jump at Mount Igman. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Seating is overrun with grass and weeds. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Another angle of the ski jump. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The track itself is covered in debris. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The ski jump through a broken window. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The Olympic rings on a tower above what used to be the figure skating arena. Dado Ruvic / Reuters This is what's left of the figure skating facility, Zetra Hall. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Atlanta hosted the Summer Olympics in 1996. The Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium was used for baseball but was demolished in 1997. Space was turned into 4,000 parking spaces. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The cauldron was moved from Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Stadium when the stadium was renamed Turner Field and repurposed for the Braves. The cauldron now sits idly overlooking a highway, and Turner Field will be demolished in 2017. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics, a will host the 2022 Winter Olympics. Dado Ruvic / Reuters A sign from the area where the baseball stadium once stood. Dado Ruvic / Reuters A stray dog on a field that was once inside the baseball stadium. Dado Ruvic / Reuters A make-shift broom lying in what was once an Olympic "green area." Dado Ruvic / Reuters Tourists stand to take pictures next to the rings in a former "green area" from the Olympics. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The parking lot for the cycling stadium is now used for driving tests. Dado Ruvic / Reuters A rusting sign from the kayaking facility. Dado Ruvic / Reuters A security guard with a flat tire from his bicycle at the deserted kayaking venue. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The three empty poles in the left of the shot once flew country flags of medal-winning Olympians. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The BMX facility. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Many of their stadiums are shut out from the public, like the beach volleyball facility. Dado Ruvic / Reuters A promotional banner for beach volleyball still stands. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Panels on the outsides of the beach volleyball facility are falling off. Dado Ruvic / Reuters A boat sails past the stands and observation tower from the deserted rowing facility. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The polluted waters near the facility. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Athens went $15 billion over budget to prepare for the 2004 Summer Olympics. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Greece shouldered the cost overruns, and many of the facilities have fallen into disuse. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The Olympic village is totally abandoned. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The city planned to turn the Olympic village into public housing. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Thousands of families applied to live there, but the whole project fell through. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Seating areas are overgrown with weeds. Dado Ruvic / Reuters And stairs and totally covered in rust. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The canoe and kayak facility was the first in Olympic history to be filled with salt water rather than fresh water. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Now it's abandoned. Dado Ruvic / Reuters And completely dry in patches. Dado Ruvic / Reuters There's graffiti everywhere. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Beach volleyball practice courts are growing wild. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The beach volleyball venue from a distance. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Inside, it's a nightmare. Dado Ruvic / Reuters And totally useless. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Weeds are everywhere. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The diving center is drained. Dado Ruvic / Reuters One pool is filthy. Dado Ruvic / Reuters And totally polluted. Dado Ruvic / Reuters Frogs have found homes, at least. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The tracks are still used by some, but it doesn't mean they're in good shape. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The field hockey facility. Dado Ruvic / Reuters And an old podium. Dado Ruvic / Reuters The Olympic golf course took three years to make and caused much ire because it was built on a national wildlife reserve. Now, it's rundown and empty. REUTERS/Nacho Doce The Olympic Village, too, is a ghost town. REUTERS/Nacho Doce One practice pool has turned orange, and the structure next to it is quite literally falling apart. REUTERS/Nacho Doce A closer look at the eerie orange water. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares And the nearby structure, where panels are falling off. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares Inside the Aquatic Center, the pool is drained except for some unpleasant standing water. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares A notice at the Deodoro Sports Complex, which reads: "We are in recess." REUTERS/Pilar Olivares An outside view of the Carioca Arenas, which hosted the basketball events, among others. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares Quite symbolically, this set of Olympic rings is half-covered. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo The famed Maracana Stadium has gone completely to waste. REUTERS/Nacho Doce The turf is browned and patches are missing. AP Photo/Mario Lobao Seats have been pried from the stands. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo In one dugout, a trashcan is overturned and more seats are crumbling. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo Wires hanging aimlessly in a broadcast booth from the Maracana. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo Seats at the Maracana. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo Another depressing scene from the Olympic Stadium. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo The media center was recently demolished and is now a health hazard. Getty Images A closer view of the trash left over from the demolition of the media center. Getty Images The beach volleyball venue gets sporadic use. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares Thousands of favela residents were displaced during construction for the Olympics, and the favelas that were supposed to be improved ahead of time have only gotten worse. McGrath/Getty Images Most crazy of all, the Olympics were only six months ago... REUTERS/Pilar Olivares Credits: businessinsider.in, businessinsider.in Share this story on Facebook with your friends.