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What the Abandoned Venues from the 2004 Athens Olympics Look Like Now

By Planet Fotorimo

Source : businessinsider.fr
The 2004 Athens Olympics went nearly $15 billion over its initial $1.6 billion budget, according to economist and professor Andrew Zimbalist, who wrote a book on the true cost of hosting large sporting events.
The majority of the cost overruns fell on the Greek government, which built all the expensive, highly specific buildings you need to host the Olympics — a village, a media center, an Olympic stadium, a canoe/kayak slalom center, etc.
When the athletes went home at the end of August 2004, organizers learned a cruel lesson — Athens has absolutely no use for a canoe/kayak slalom center.
Amid an economic crisis that has seen other parts of the city diminished, many of these 2004 stadiums have long since become white elephants. As these photos from 2014 show, the Olympic Village is empty, and the venues for softball, beach volleyball, and kayaking are all overrun with weeds.
With Greece unable to pay its debts and the IOC now struggling to find countries willing to host the Olympics, 2004 might be viewed as one of the last Olympics of an era when democratic nations saw the games as a worthwhile investment.

The beach-volleyball center, where weeds are growing through the sand.

The beach-volleyball center, where weeds are growing through the sand. REUTERS/Yorgos Karahalis

Seven thousand people watched Misty May and Kerri Walsh win gold here in 2004.

Seven thousand people watched Misty May and Kerri Walsh win gold here in 2004.Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

The practice courts outside the stadium are also overgrown.

The practice courts outside the stadium are also overgrown.REUTERS/Yorgos Karahalis

The Olympic Village, where the athletes like Michael Phelps stayed during the games, is a ghost town.

The Olympic Village, where the athletes like Michael Phelps stayed during the games, is a ghost town.Milos Bicanski/Getty ImagesSource: Telegraph

The original plan was to turn it into public housing after the games.

The original plan was to turn it into public housing after the games.Milos Bicanski/Getty ImagesSource: Telegraph

Thousands of families applied to move in.

Thousands of families applied to move in.Milos Bicanski/Getty ImagesSource: Telegraph

But it all went wrong.

But it all went wrong.REUTERS/Yannis BehrakisSource: Telegraph

A school that authorities promised to build was never constructed, and a bunch of businesses left the area after the Olympics.

A school that authorities promised to build was never constructed, and a bunch of businesses left the area after the Olympics.REUTERS/Yannis BehrakisSource: Telegraph

By 2011, half the complex had been abandoned.

By 2011, half the complex had been abandoned.REUTERS/Yannis BehrakisSource: Telegraph

Copper piping and other things of even remote value were stolen.

Copper piping and other things of even remote value were stolen.Milos Bicanski/Getty ImagesSource: Telegraph

The pool is crumbling.

The pool is crumbling.Milos Bicanski/Getty ImagesSource: Telegraph

The entrance has been blocked.

The entrance has been blocked.REUTERS/Yannis BehrakisSource: Telegraph

The softball stadium is a weed patch.

The softball stadium is a weed patch.Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

A worker told the London Evening Standard in 2012, "It is not abandoned. It's just that nobody ever plays softball."

What the abandoned venues from the 2004 Athens Olympics look like nowMilos Bicanski/Getty ImagesSource: London Evening Standard

The quote sums up the problem with these stadiums.

The quote sums up the problem with these stadiums.Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

The venues are maintained by the government, but there's just no use for them.

The venues are maintained by the government, but there's just no use for them.Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

No one plays sports like softball or baseball in Greece, let alone pays to watch it.

No one plays sports like softball or baseball in Greece, let alone pays to watch it.REUTERS/Yorgos Karahalis

The baseball stadium has also grown wild.

The baseball stadium has also grown wild.Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

The "batter's eye," which helped hitters see the pitch in 2004, now just flaps in the breeze.

The Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

The Canoe/Kayak Slalom Center was once a world-class venue.

The Canoe/Kayak Slalom Center was once a world-class venue.Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

It was the first Olympic venue to be filled with salt water instead of fresh water.

It was the first Olympic venue to be filled with salt water instead of fresh water.REUTERS/Yorgos KarahalisSource: NYT

There's now standing water around the venue.

There's now standing water around the venue.REUTERS/Yorgos Karahalis

The stands look like ruins.

The stands look like ruins.REUTERS/Yorgos Karahalis

The massive scoreboard was used for just two weeks.

The massive scoreboard was used for just two weeks.REUTERS/Yorgos Karahalis

The nearby rowing center still gets some use, but the scoreboard is toast.

The nearby rowing center still gets some use, but the scoreboard is toast.REUTERS/Yorgos Karahalis

Some venues, like the Olympic stadium, are still in use. But others haven't seen any action in 10 years.

Some venues, like the Olympic stadium, are still in use. But others haven't seen any action in 10 years.Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

A practice pool at the Aquatic Center has been drained.

A practice pool at the Aquatic Center has been drained.Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

The field-hockey arena hasn't been touched.

The field-hockey arena hasn't been touched.REUTERS/Yorgos Karahalis

The scoreboard is empty.

The scoreboard is empty.REUTERS/Yorgos Karahalis

Sochi is at risk of the same thing ...

Sochi is at risk of the same thing ...Alexander Belenkiy/Macos

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