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What Abandoned Olympic Venues From Around The World Look Like Today

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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.

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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

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