The beautiful stands and arenas were once witness to the roar of the crowds, the flashes of the cameras, the jubilant cries of the triumphant athletes & the tears of the ones who fell short.
The Olympic Games have been around for around 120 years. Countless cities and venues have hosted the grand event. As the decades pass by, some of these places have been well preserved while others have faded away in neglect.
They look like old, deserted battlefields. They beckon you as they whisper stories of men & women who fought there for international glory. In the end, however, the only victor is silence.
Here are 15 hauntingly beautiful photos of abandoned Olympic venues from around the world:
1. Ski Jump Tower – Cortina D’ampezzo, Italy (1956 Winter Olympics)
2. Swimming Pool – Berlin, Germany (1936 Summer Olympics)
3. Bobsled Track – Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1984 Winter Olympics)
4. Olympic Sports Complex – Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1984 Winter Olympics)
5. Olympic Village – Athens, Greece (2004 Summer Olympics)
6. Beach Volleyball Venue – Beijing, China (2008 Summer Olympics)
7. Ski Jump Tower – Grenoble, France (1968 Winter Olympics)
8. Main Swimming Pool – Athens, Greece (2004 Summer Olympics)
9. Olympic Canoe & Kayak Slalom Center – Athens, Greece (2004 Summer Olympics)
10. Barricades strewn about outside the stadium – Athens, Greece (2004 Summer Olympics)
11. Ski Jump – Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1984 Winter Olympics)
12. Olympic flag posts – Athens, Greece (2004 Summer Olympics)
13. Kayak And Canoeing Venue – Athens, Greece (2004 Summer Olympics)
14. Olympic Village – Berlin, Germany (1936 Summer Olympics)
15. Bobsleigh Track – Sarajevo (1984 Winter Olympics)
No longer useful, but still so alluring!