Eerie abandoned Olympic buildings from around the world

Every two years a city spends billions of dollars preparing for either the summer or winter Olympics building huge facilities very quickly.

But once the Olympic flame is extinguished some of these venues have no use and fall into disrepair, and many years later the results are quite spooky.

Some athletes have complained about accommodation and facilities at the upcoming Rio Olympics but whatever the faults they’re nicer than these abandoned Olympics buildings.

Swimmers train underneath the Olympic rings in the aquatics center before the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Matt Slocum

Here are some of the most haunting abandoned Olympic sites from around the world.

Sarajevo 

Sarajevo was the first communist city to host the Winter Olympics in 1984 when it was still part of Yugoslavia. But 10 years after the Olympics the city came under siege as Yugoslavia split apart into Bosnia and Herzegovina. The conflict lasted four years, during which time some Olympic venues including the bobsled track were allegedly used as artillery storage. The site is now a deserted reminder of winter sports as well as deadly conflict.

Abandoned ski slopes in Sarajevo. Image: Imgur. 

Greece

The Olympics was held in Athens just 12 years ago, but that doesn’t mean the buildings are still in good condition. The beach volleyball centre below is just one building that’s fallen into disrepair since 2004. The Olympic village is also in a bad way.

Berlin 

The 1936 Summer Olympics Games was hosted by none other than Adolf Hitler and the city of Berlin. During the controversial games, where Jewish and black athletes were barred from competing at times, the village hosted 4000 men from over 50 nations. As World War II tore through the country the Olympic village was used as barracks for the German army, and after the war ended the Soviet army occupied the site. Many of the buildings, including the swimming pool, are still standing but in poor condition.

Munich

Germany hosted the Summer Olympics again in 1972 in the city of Munich. To cope with an influx of international visitors more train stations were built, including the “Bahnhof Munchen Olympiastadion” train station.

Now, however, the station sits in the middle of nowhere, covered in graffiti and the tracks have been removed.

Beijing

Beijing in 2008 was a ripper of a year for Australian athletes, who took home a total of 46 medals. The Chinese city built its Olympic infrastructure rapidly, but left many of its arenas abandoned after the Games. The kayaking course sits empty in the middle of the city, as does the BMX track, covered in snow in winter.